I See You / The xx- Review

The xx have rewarded their long awaiting fans with a renewed vitality; members Romy Madley Croft, Oliver Sim, and Jamie Smith (known as Jamie xx) released their third studio album, “I See You”, on January 13th, 2017. “I See You” is a fairly swift production, with ten tracks tapping at 39 minutes total. The band hailed the album’s arrival with the late 2016 released single “On Hold”.The xx have succeeded as a popular mellow indie pop group, citing subtle R&B and rock influences as factors into their tessellation of music production. They are known for their somber sounds and subtle style; The xx’s previous albums, self-titled “The xx” and “Coexist”, transport the listener to an eerie dreamland of subtle bass and grave lyricism. Although “I See You” incorporates these elements, essential to their aesthetic and musical sound, the newly released album represents a more eclectic and peppered creativity. Refreshing for a band that is already so divergent from traditional, bouncier indie pop tunes, “I See You” truly flourishes understatedly, as a musical creation and as an intriguing listen.

The album begins with a blare of horns in the opening track, “Dangerous”; considering the band’s lack of use of any defining instrumentals at all, this incorporation of horns shifts the album into a slightly jauntier tone. Looped throughout the track accompanied by a rhythmic, pulsating bass and sharp inflections, “Dangerous” sets the tone for the energy infused into “I See You”. Another example of this refreshing vibrancy lies in the single “On Hold”. A warbled Hall & Oates is looped throughout, laced with a catchy hook and lyrics that are easy to hum to-while delicately dancing around the blandness that some lyrics on singles can be ensnared in. The xx do not specialize in catchy songs- their serenades are more suitable for a moody listen alone in your bedroom than a radio station. However, “I See You” cultivates a grounded sense of spirit. The group truly deserves acknowledgement for injecting a healthy dose of zeal into their doleful work; it brings the depth that exists in their music to life.

“I See You” flows as a dreamy segue, counterbalancing songs between magnetic rhythms and soft, subtle ballads. Endeared by ethereal harmonizing of tracks like “Replica”, one gets the sense that they are meandering through an introspective peregrination. The composition overall stays solid and balanced throughout.

Composure lies not only in its production, but in its content. This is one area The xx have mastered: the members manage to weave songs threaded together by vulnerability and dignity, tenderness and strength, introspection and outward facing resolution. “Performance” is a fitting emulation for this phenomenon; “I want you to notice/But you just don't see/The show is wasted on you/So I perform for me,” Croft delicately croons, touching on her treasury of heartbreak and loss. All band members have endured their fair share of life, and their album serves as a catharsis for their stories, their emotions, and their thoughts. “Brave For You” stands out as another haunting lullaby by Croft, a somber tribute to the death of her parents. Part of the reason that The xx touches their audience is in their deliverance and sincerity-the three hit a nerve that exists in all of us, but most are not willing to acknowledge. Yes, in times of emotional distress everyone needs to jam to a dismissive breakup tune or outlet their resentment by listening to a snarky song, but there also comes a time when a person needs to address the part of them that’s vulnerable and hurting. The xx, especially on “I See You”, stands as the go-to band for that need:an album that expresses longing, sorrow, fragility and self doubt. However, through “I See You” The xx’s transformation is evident. Previous albums expressed only this pensive vulnerability; “I See You” is infused with a defiant note, no longer content to sit in the shadows. The xx deftly keeps a balance between their blossoming growth and humble roots. It’s pleasantly rewarding to watch a group that has grown to be successful continue to deliver solid albums, prevailing despite personal insecurities and roadblocks.”I See You” continues in The xx- fashion to soothe, to haunt, and to impress.

Rating: 8.5/10