The XX Succeed with Their Dangerous Third studio album, ‘I See You’
The XX first showed up on our radar back in 2009 with their captivating clash of R&B and alternative rock inspired images. Their spacious and moody tone became a trademark and made them leaders to the indie genre and forever became favorites for fans and critics alike.
Coming back from 2013 sophomore album Coexist, The XX took a route that was not expected but can still be admired for their growth in character and for remaining true to their vulnerability and expression of the overall emotional spectrum.
They started out on their debut album with little experience on their instrumentation and made sure that their lyrics and voices were an essential backbone to what made their music so stunning to the soul. As the years progressed, you could tell how well they work with each other and understand theirs weaknesses and strengths. Straight off an incredible solo album from percussionist and producer Jamie XX with In Colour back in 2015, both Sims and Croft decided to give their limelight to feature the missing piece to making an album like I See You. The brighter-than-usual dream-pop atmosphere that is carried throughout this album is all thanks to the genius of Jamie XX and his ability to make a driving percussion and beat production which complimented the voices of XX singing duo in seamless harmony.
The XX is known for having a skeletal cadence using minimalistic styles and breathy tones that evoked the feelings their lyrics possess. However, this time around their music kept those same feelings and made a stronger foundation to captivate the viewer with the feelings their music has the potential in giving the listener. With samples, abrasive trumpets, and exciting synths, they are able to bring a different side to the XX. The title, I See You, is said to be a homage to a Drake concert the band attended and a way of recognition and gratitude for the people around you—almost blatantly thanking each other for their help along their career. With that theme implied, you can see what each song is trying to do separately and how the XX are becoming more comfortable with themselves and each other. This is also their first album artwork featuring themselves on the cover with a soft blur—which takes this theme into effect by invoking a separation between us and them and also a newfound unity between them that can be found in the lyrics.
They also seem to blur out the distances between each song’s pace. The songs disillusion the listener to what is going on, considering one moment the album will be upbeat, then go into a dark and somber solo performance, such as Romy Croft’s display in “Performance.” This is also their best weapon when it comes to showing comfort in their own skin. The first two XX albums were formulaic, and we normally saw equal parts of each member in every song. I See You offers something different by the way each member is delicately placed, allowing for solos that show the strengths of each member when needed. This can be seen in some of the more intimate lyrics that are introspective, such as “Brave for You” and “Replica” that are sung by one voice as the narrator and gets complemented by backup vocals of their partner in return.
Not to say that singers Croft and Sims have showcased their voices to have extensive range or depth that would better complement their music, but they use their abilities to perfectly mold the shape of each song in a resourceful manner. This goes for Jamie XX’s resourcefulness by every production decision made to adequately complement his bandmates. For example, the sampling of Hall and Oates in “On Hold” in a post-chorus structure makes for a reminiscent pop tone that The XX were looking for in this album. The way they create tones and feelings is delicately crafted and designs the perfect structure between songs and even within the songs in a way that we haven’t seen before in the Indie/Electronic genre.
Final Verdict: This album commits to the elements that make up an XX album in this new evolution that is more open to pop-like tones and falls back on each other’s strengths, which lets each other individually shine. This is an album that should have us hopeful for the future of the band, given that their chemistry on an album has never been this strong before. Set aside musical intentions, they let all their feelings out in a extensive range from lust, heartbreak, recklessness, hope, and strength. While earlier albums shared a sensation of angst and hurting, this album carries these same feelings while adding a mature tone that goes into relationships beyond romance. It carries a more wholesome expression of relationship, such as the relationship they have with each other or with themselves introspectively. This album commits itself flawlessly to what The XX is known for, while showing promise for their future and their cultural influence.
Here is a recent live performance of their single “On Hold” to get you excited for their upcoming tour with notable festival appearances at Primavera Sound, Bonnaroo, and Boston Calling.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKakqLIjDcQ