The xx - 'I See You' Review

January. The month of musical insignificance. A time to listen to the good old days of a old favourite's lifespan before they get thrown back on the 'past it' scrapheap for the remainder of the year. Yeah, I'm looking at you Kings of Leon.

8 days in to last year, Hinds bucked the trend delightfully. Bringing the summertime vibe to the first week back at work was an incredibly confusing phenomenon, but a welcome one at that. A year on and The xx have served up an absolute delight, 13 days in to 2017.

The xx are a band I have admired since their debut in 2009. A clean shaven, dynamic, particular indie pop album which stripped back instrumentation despite packing a heavy punch. It was a rare case of a band optimising the air and space of music. The silences, the pauses, the single notes. The xx became the benchmark for British music as a whole. Distinctive, original and deserved Mercury Prize winners; The xx had a bright future ahead.

Roll on 8 years, with a slightly less appreciated follow up but an ever present, loyal following. Jamie xx has released a solo record, which was close to winning the Mercury Prize itself. This album certainly paved the way for what was to come. 'I see you' is wholeheartedly an xx album, but one soaked in the influence of Jamie Smith's electronic charms and slick production. This can't be any clearer than on 'Lips', which fuses the smooth, infectious vocals of Romy and Oliver and the notably subtle but atmospheric beats of Jamie. 'A Violent Noise' goes even further to show the direction that Jamie has taken the instrumentation. Perhaps the most anti-xx to date, the production is clever to compromise and fuse the vocals to a clubland backdrop. A true recipe for a car crash, but handled expertly by Jamie Smith.

'Performance' is a beautiful take on not being noticed when you want it most, whilst 'I Dare You' is a tale of intense infatuation and elation. The xx have always been great at delving in to the contrasts of emotions. The two singles home in on the feelings of emptiness and hollowness. "I just don't remember the thrill of affection." on 'Say Something Loving' and "When and where did we go cold?" on 'On Hold' both extend the bands commentary of self deprecation and turmoiled relationships.

'I See You' is an album of a trio in perfect harmony, with a producer in Jamie Smith who knows his own talents as well as his partners. He has taken the band out of their musical comfort zone and blended his strong influences with glorious results. A true masterpiece of production, from one of the finest producers around.

8/10

Here is the single: 'Say Something Loving':