Indie pop trio The xx first caught everyone’s attention in 2009 with the release of its eponymous debut LP. Singles like “Intro,” “Islands” and “Crystalised” were everywhere. Fans were impressed by how much the band could do with what little it had: vocals, a guitar, a bass and programmed percussion.
The xx certainly popularized minimalism in music with its all-black attire and meager instrumentation. And more importantly, by indirectly showing artists that density and layers are overrated with their diffidence. However, the Londoners’ latest album, _I See You_, divulges another side of the band. While the overall atmosphere of mournful loss and heartbreak remains, there’s definitely a lot more going on in a musical sense.
It’s highly probable that longtime fans were utterly surprised when they hit play. The opening track, “Dangerous,” lures the listener in with blaring horn samples. Rarely has The xx ever been so loud and blatant with their music, but it’s an interesting change of pace. This new style immediately catches the listener’s attention.
There’s no denying that producer and drummer Jamie xx had a significant influence over the album’s direction. Jamie unexpectedly became the celebrity of a famously shy band with his debut solo LP, _In Colour_ in 2015. The record combined plenty of ambient instrumentals with obscure samples that put him in the spotlight for his masterful production. Such sampling and spacious ambience is a significant part of _I See You_, and it’s a sound The xx has never experimented with.
Conversely, there is plenty of experimentation with sampling and electronic aspects, and there are still integral components of The xx that uphold the band’s signature sound. The fourth track, “A Violent Noise,” is filled to the brim with reverb and delay-infused guitars. The vocals on “Say Something Loving” retain their timidity and somberness. The single “On Hold” contains the familiar trade-offs between vocalists Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim.
Needless to say, the instrumentation of the record takes on an eclectic nature unprecedented in earlier records by The xx. It burgeons and shrinks with the swooning of the vocals and it offers Jamie xx a bigger, brighter spotlight than ever before (which is very much a good thing). And with all of this said, I haven’t even begun to talk about the lyrical content.
As stated previously, _I See You_ contains themes such as heartbreak and sorrowful introspection that are present on their previous LPs. On this new album, Croft and Sim incorporate familiar themes but find an outlet for some of their most powerful lyrics ever.
Closer “Test Me” is a lyrical highlight, discussing the hardships of Croft and Sim’s friendship. “You look but you never see,” Croft sings over piano chords as fragile as her vocals. She demonstrates a strong feeling of hopelessness and loss as she desperately watches her friend struggle with alcoholism.
Another lyrical high point is “Brave For You,” a lament about the death of Croft’s parents. She finally accepts their parting, singing “so I will be brave for you, stand on a stage for you.” It’s a beautiful combination of vulnerable transparency and unmitigated strength and courage.
_I See You_ is an uplifting musical work focused on celebrating the strength to move on, while not forgetting the tribulations that you endured to arrive where you are. It introduces unheard elements of The xx such as creative uses of samples and dance beats, courtesy of Jamie xx. There is just enough change to excite and engage the listener, while vital ingredients of one of the greatest modern indie pop acts remain.
MOVE gives _I See You_ 4.5/5 stars.
