Album
The xx
I See You
January 13 2017 (Young Turks)
8/10
Words: Alison Mack
The first big release of the year, The xx’s third album, produced by Jamie (xx) Smith and Rodaidh McDonald, follows 'Coexist' - belatedly, more than four years after its release.
Still minimalist in essence, they also take to employing samples for the first time, and added little touches here and there, with Smith's moves on club vibes and a stylized power pop nuance coming on board.
Taut opener 'Dangerous' sees Oliver Sim and Romy Madley Croft sharing lines, “I couldn’t care less/If they call us reckless” as surging horns work into a dark-lit groove; likewise the bittersweet 'Say Something Loving' sees the duo's vocal interplay highlighted along with the aforementioned samples.
Amid intricate guitars and strings, 'Performance' finds Madley Croft “putting on a show” and “playing hide and seek”, while the single 'On Hold' pops out a banger of Human League proportions, but actually samples Hall and Oates' 'I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)'. 'I See You' took its time to get here, but it was well worth the wait.
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