Luvcat’s ‘Vicious Delicious’: An exploration of love, grief and desire

Like walking into an isolated Victorian castle that has hauntingly beautiful stone doors and carvings, Luvcat’s debut album opens the door to a gothic world. Vicious Delicious, released on Halloween, gives the listener chills and an unexpected desire to explore the mysteries of nightmares. By creating a whimsical world, Luvcat describes raw emotions and humane experiences, showing how being in love can create conflicts and struggles in a woman’s already complex life. 

When the first song on the album, ‘Lipstick’, begins, the mist surrounding Luvcat’s dark pop persona slowly lifts, and the gothic atmosphere draws the listener in. By using the metaphor of a doll throughout the song and presenting herself as a doll in the music video, ‘Lipstick’ playfully comments on how women are always ready to change themselves in every way. The song also shows how fragile women feel behind all that effort as Luvcat sings, “Just keep my sweetheart safe in a jar,” desperately. The repeated use of this line builds to a crescendo in the listener’s emotions as the song slowly moves from the breathy bridge to this sharp, melancholic line.

Whilst Lipstick tells the story of a woman ready to change for her lover, the second song on the album, ‘Alien’, reveals that she still feels out of place, an outsider on the inside. Luvcat sings, “And I know that I’m changing, and I know that I’m still the same,” in the pre-chorus to expose the conflict between her inner and exterior self. Moreover, with the second song, the playful tone of ‘Lipstick’ gives way to a more emotional, raw one. Therefore, the subtle, soft use of instruments such as the violin and piano conveys the tonal difference between the first two songs.

Luvcat uses the gothic and monstrous elements as a tool to express her desires in her lyrics

‘Matador’, ‘Dinner @ Brasserie Zédel’, and ‘He’s My Man’, all previously appearing on Luvcat’s EP, Blushing, expand the gothic universe of the album. Whilst Matador focuses on how quickly love can turn to gore, ‘Dinner @ Brasserie Zédel’’s mysterious, romantic tone draws listeners into a cult-horror film. Lyrics such as “I promise I’m not crazy, ask the others / But they’re already dead” and “It’s our own little warm, cosy, beautiful hell” remind the listener of The Craft (1996)’s feminist energy and Sleepy Hollow (1999)’s gothic scenery. The electric guitar riffs blend with the dark, monstrous romance described in the song and highlight that being associated with monstrosity need not be seen as negative. Significantly, Luvcat uses the gothic and monstrous elements as a tool to express her desires in her lyrics. 

Moreover, women who rejected conforming to the rules of the patriarchal system are historically associated with the monstrous figure. From Sandra Gilbert’s The Mad Woman in the Attic (1979) to Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl (2014), this theme has been criticised by many women writers. Similarly, Luvcat’s lyricism explores this theme and highlights how the association with the monstrous can be empowering. Perhaps the Luvcat’s most famous song, ‘He’s My Man’, expands on this idea by shining a light on the gothic dimension of women’s desires. Referencing stereotypical roles associated with women, such as “I stay home and make his dinner,” then playfully adding “Even though he keeps getting thinner,” shows how being at peace with this side of femininity can be powerful. 

The gothic tone and atmosphere of ‘Vicious Delicious’, created through haunting violin melodies, entise the listener; ‘Love & Money’ imbues the album with a synth-pop quality. The lyrics’ rhyme scheme makes the song catchy and alluring. 

Vicious Delicious opens the doors to a gothic, “cruel and cunning world” and shows what it feels like to be haunted by lipstick and pearls

On the other hand, ‘Spider’ and ‘Emma Dilemma’ use instruments like a violin and strings to tell a story. Whilst the staccato notes reflect the process of a spider’s weaving of its web in ‘Spider’, the vertiginous structure of ‘Emma Dilemma’ is conveyed through the erratic and sharp changes in notes. These techniques are not only used to reflect the ‘dilemma’ mentioned in the song, but also to create a gothic atmosphere. Whilst the end of the song almost reminds the listener of the scene in Alice in Wonderland where Alice falls into the rabbit hole, the instrumental of ‘The Kazimier Garden’ is reminiscent of Victor’s Piano Solo from The Corpse Bride (2005).  

The title of the next song on the album, ‘Laurie’, perhaps references the famous character from Little Women. The usage of the piano and the electric guitar makes the song raw and emotional. Retelling the familiar story from a modern Jo’s perspective, Luvcat reflects on Jo’s desire to be loved and relates to her decisions. 

‘Blushing’, the penultimate track, resembles ‘Love & Money’ in its production, making it sound like a 2000s pop song. This allows the album’s final track, ‘Bad Books’, to become a powerful finale. Its jazzy melodies and use of minor notes highlight Luvcat’s love for gothic and dark art. Ultimately, Luvcat’s debut album explores many themes such as love, grief, and desire. As Luvcat sings, Vicious Delicious opens the doors to a gothic, “cruel and cunning world” and shows what it feels like to be haunted by lipstick and pearls. 

Recommended Listening: ‘Bad Books’, ‘Alien’, ‘Spider’

★★★★

Listen to Vicious Delicious here: