THE XX -
'I SEE YOU'
I See You opens with a somewhat unfamiliar fanfare, the sound of ‘Dangerous’ with its blaring synthetic horns may be initially jarring for anyone expectant of a sombre introduction from The xx. A confidence is exhibited both sonically and via the rebellious chorus shared by both Madley-Croft and Sim “because I couldn’t care less, if they call us reckless”. The 5 years since the group’s second project ‘Coexist’ was released has proved vital to the band’s development. Whilst ‘Coexist’ had glimpses of greatness with tracks such as ‘Tides’ and ‘Fiction’ it suffered from a apprehensiveness to be expressive in its execution, almost acting as a metaphor for the ‘limelight-avoiding’ dispositions of the band.
This development is in no doubt intrinsically linked to the rise of Jamie Smith (Jamie xx) and the influence he has had on the current top 40 sound of today with samples of his work being used by pop juggernauts like Drake. Baring more similarities to Jamie’s 2015 love letter to 90’s rave culture ‘In Colour’ than their masterful 2009 self-titled debut, it is obvious they have granted Jamie with the reins to mould a sound for ‘I See You’ more befitting of a band which have overcame obstacles in their lives. It is both liberating and infectious as it is quiet and personal. The fragility in Romy Madely-Croft’s voice addressing her late parents on ‘Brave For You’ is matched by its explosions of recognisable guitar lines, whilst ‘On Hold’ is a celebration of youth driven by a Jamie xx patented sample of Hall and Oates. My personal favourite on the album is ‘Replica’ a song Sim wrote about his personal battle with alcoholism. “Do I chase the night, or does the night chase me?” is a line which reflects the struggles of many 20-somethings struggling to find some semblance of purpose in their lives.
In 2009 The xx almost seemed like a necessary contrast to the musical landscape in Britain with it closely resembling something of a X-Factor live show themed graveyard, a graveyard where the resident digger was a topless beer-bellied Robbie Williams shouting into your face demanding attention. 8 years on this is perhaps not the case anymore, but something that has remained ever-present is The xx’s ability to craft songs which despite appearing aesthetically dreary and melancholic, provide the listener with a shared sense of clarity and acceptance in their permission to feel vulnerable. ‘I See You’ is not only a representation of the group’s personal triumphs, but one of a celebration of expression in an often hyper-masculine music industry.
MUSIC
words: Nathan mallett