The latest in news from the cultural universe
Just For Culture
  • Home
  • Art & Literature
  • Music
  • Day & Nightlife
  • Film & TV
  • About Us & Contact

Review: The XX - I See You

13/1/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
South London trio The XX have always oozed a sound that seduces best when listened to in isolation, exuding not only musical purity, but vulnerability.

Their eponymous opening record and the Coexist follow up were drenched in pensive atmosphere designed to stroke, strangle or stretch the mind from a pair of worthy headphones, quite possibly while glaring broodingly – the brooding was crucial – into some sort of distant horizon.

It’s evident from track one of I See You that this is no longer the case. Large parts of the third studio album from The XX are equally as suited to some big speakers and a dancefloor than solidarity confinement. It’s evident that The XX have re-found their spark, and that a lot of this has to do with the input of Jamie Smith on the back of global success with his breakout solo album In Colour.

It’s easy to say. But it’s also true.

And The XX have no problem flaunting the huge progression of their sound, either. Actually, they’ve been going out of their way to do so.

There remains numerous songs on I See You that could sit happily on either of The XX’s first two albums, but single releases ‘On Hold’ and ‘Say Something Loving’ are not two of them – and album opener ‘Dangerous’ would not fit the template either.

Right from the get-go The XX want you to know that things are different. The group have thrust the sounds least familiar right to the forefront of their album launch. After a second album geared too tightly around trying to appease and re-develop established ideas, the trio now seem comfortable pushing their tight, albeit gripping, comfort zone.

​Oli Sims sings on ‘Dangerous’ to open the album: “They say we’re in danger / but I disagree / If proven wrong / shame on me / but you’ve had faith in me so I won’t shy away.”

The song kicks in with a carnival horn. The XX. Opening their album with a carnival horn?! And it doesn’t let up. A funky bassline leaps back and forth over rhythmic two-step garage drums commanding the tempo. The vocals from Sims and Romy Madley Croft are as familiar and distinguishing as ever in terms of lyrics and delivery, but this is a song that wouldn’t look out of place on a Basement Jaxx album – which coming from The XX is quite the transformation.

‘Dangerous’ is a dangerous for The XX. But it’s still The XX, and it’s the start of one of the finest albums we’re likely to hear in 2017.

The group have abandoned their rule to only make music they could play in its entirety live, allowing sampling and opening an array of new doors. We saw this on the singles. ‘On Hold’ samples Hall and Oates and ‘Say Something Loving’ samples the Alessi Brothers. It’s Jamie’s voice in the band, and while bound to irritate segments of their fanbase, it’s brought an exciting spark of diversity and unpredictability to the album.

The thing is, with vocals as distinctive as Remy and Oli, the XX can change their sound and still sound immediately recognisable. A rare privilege. ‘A Violent Noise’ lays lyrics of confusion and solitude over distorted guitars and synths that recall Jamie XX’s ‘Stranger in the Room’. You can dance to that track, even if it is about alcoholic issues, and yet it is very identifiably a song by The XX.

Romy feature ‘Performance’ brings things back to more familiar territory. Slow, furtive, sensitive, thought-provoking, it’s a classic XX song.
 
Oli’s ‘Replica’ and Romy’s ‘Brave For You’ look to follow suit, only the lyrics are far more revealing than either would likely have been comfortable with back in 2009.
 
Every choice and sample is still considered as intricately as any noise that ended up in any XX album ever was, there’s just a lot more doors open this time. And with lyrics more delicate and evocative as ever, it makes for an outstandingly engaging listen – progressive, profound, and fragile while still unyielding.
 
A huge step forward for the group, and one of the best we’ll see in 2017.

Stuart Kenny
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Music

    Bringing you the latest music news, features and opinions from the JFC mind

    Archives

    May 2021
    February 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    June 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    June 2013

    Categories

    All
    2013
    2014
    2015
    Abandon Ship
    Aberdeen
    Album
    Alex Metric
    Alternative
    Austin Carlile
    Band
    Becky Hill
    Beyonce
    Biffy
    Biffy Clyro
    Blackened Sky
    Blog
    Bono
    Broken Social Scene
    Calvin Harris
    Camden
    Charlie Simpson
    Chart
    Chris Martin
    CHVRCHES
    Clyro
    Coldplay
    Dance
    Dangermouse
    D&B
    Deadmau5
    Decade
    Drum And Bass
    Dublin
    EDM
    Ella Eyre
    Exclusive
    Festival
    Full Crate
    Gecko
    Genre
    Ghost Stories
    Giorgio Moroder
    Girl Friend
    Glasgow
    God Level
    Gorgon City
    Gwyneth Paltrow
    Handguns
    Heart To Heart
    Hit The Lights
    House
    Hudson Mohawke
    If I Go
    Indie
    Infinity Land
    Innovative
    Interview
    In The Lonely Hour
    Ireland
    ITunes
    Jesse Glynne
    Jess Glynne
    JproD
    Jurassic 5
    Kanye-west
    Kilmainham
    Kings
    King-tuts
    King-tuts020c7650de
    Knife Party
    Latest
    Liquid Room
    Little Matador
    Little Mix
    Live
    Live Review
    Living Without You
    London
    McBusted
    Mentirosa
    Metric
    MK
    Monarchy
    Money On My Mind
    Motion
    Music
    Myspace
    Neck Deep
    New
    New Music
    News
    New Wave
    Of Mice & Men
    Oliver $
    Oliver Heldens
    Online
    Only Revelations
    OPM
    Opposites
    Overdrive
    Paloma Faith
    Paul Epworth
    PAWS
    Pendulum
    Pop
    Pop Punk
    Pop-Punk
    Punk-Rock
    Puzzle
    Rating
    Reasons
    Remi
    Remix
    Review
    Ric Ocasek
    Rivers Cuomo
    Rob Swire
    Rock
    Royal Hospital
    Rudimental
    Ryan Tedder
    Sam Smith
    Scotland
    Scottish
    Simon Neil
    Single
    Singles
    Slam Dunk
    Sleep Deprived
    Social Network
    Songs Of Innocence
    Soul
    Synthpop
    Technology
    The 1975
    The Pierces
    The Story So Far
    The Xcerts
    Tour
    Twin Atlantic
    U2
    Video
    Wah Wah Hut
    We Are The In Crowd
    Website
    Weezer
    Xcerts
    Yeezus
    Youth Culture Forever

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.