Luvcat’s ‘Vicious Delicious’ is Molding With Leftovers

After drip-feeding singles to fans in 2024, English singer-songwriter Luvcat released her debut record “Vicious Delicious” — a lukewarm entree which needed more time to cook.

Luvcat is the latest recording project of multi-instrumentalist Sophie Haworth, who gained initial prominence releasing acoustic folk songs under the name Sophie Morgan.

“Vicious Delicious” plays like a theater kid’s attempt to capture the undercurrent of NewDad’s 2024 breakout “MADRA.” Though highly stylized and rooted in bedroom pop, Luvcat’s debut struggles to find its footing amid volatile instrumentation and repetitive narratives. 

The distinct stylization is immediately evident in opening track “Lipstick.” Released May 9, the song flirts with the Halloween season the album just barely released within.

As sporadic screams slice through the rumbling piano, Howarth delivers lyrics dripping with violent obsession — the first taste of the record’s heavy-handed doting.

“I want to be your favorite / I’ll kill all the rest / Take their long blonde braids / And tie them ‘round their necks,” Haworth sings.

Much of “Vicious Delicious” is written from the perspective of hopeless romanticism, though the tracks seldom form a cohesive narrative. Desperate pining and vengeful spite swirl together in a whirlwind of conflicting emotions.

In a sense, the album’s erratic sequencing mirrors the chaotic and confusing feelings that love can evoke — though this effect is likely unintentional. 

While albums don’t need to be conceptual, in today’s oversaturated music industry, a debut record should offer more than just a studio-produced demo reel. The preluding singles heighten this feeling as a majority are underproduced compared to the album’s originals.

Debut single “Matador,” released May 2024, introduces a noticeably stripped back sound — fitting for both her first release and the first track on the album to take that approach.

As following tracks “Dinner @ Brasserie Zedel” and “He’s My Man” press forward, they create a lull in the flair “Lipstick” promised but seldom delivered.

Thankfully, not every recycled single is monotonous filler.

Released Feb. 14, “Love & Money” shines as a highlight in production and lyricism. 

Described as a “love letter to passionate, all-consuming romance in the city,” the track pulses with the restless energy of nightlife and the fleeting intimacy that defines it.

“Love & Money” kicks off a wave of fully original album tracks.

The titular “Vicious Delicious” and “Spider” finally fulfill the verve of “Lipstick,” bringing a much needed energy back to the record.

Though less theatrical, the melancholic piano interlude “The Kazimiers Garden” is a chilling descent into madness. The ensuing “Laurie” continues this crusade in a poignantly produced soft-rock strain. 

While “Vicious Delicious” flirts with moments of brilliance, it’s nothing more than untapped potential.

“Vicious Delicious” is available to stream on all major platforms.