[rating=9.00]
From the opening measures of I See You, it is clear that London trio The XX have broken their mold. “Dangerous” is a big, layered pop song with a dancehall beat and a “Thriller”-esque bouncing bassline. It still has some of the band’s trademarks, such as the sultry intertwining vocals of Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim, but it is a far cry from the sparse sound of the band’s previous records.
Credit multi-instrumentalist Jamie Smith for the shift. His solo album (as Jamie XX) In Colour showcased his club-filling beats and intricately layered sounds to critical acclaim. Croft and Sim were inspired by the album and, as a result, Smith has a much more featured role in I See You.
That doesn’t mean The XX have sold out and gone electro-pop, though. I See You still sounds distinctively like The XX, with their moody lyrics, Croft’s serpentine staccato guitar licks, and some of the best vocal harmonies you’ll hear on any pop album. They just added more to their bag of tricks, utilizing less empty space but more percussion and melody.
“Say Something Loving” deftly combines the old and new XX style. Slow, sparse instrumentation in the verses transitions into the swirling synthesizers of the upbeat choruses. The dual tone of the song underscores its swaying between nervous, optimistic, and pessimistic. “Say something loving. I need a reminder; the feeling’s escaped me,” Croft and Sim sing in unison at one of the song’s bleakest moments. The crying out for love, however, is answered. “When I gave up I found love,” Croft sings. They’re still skeptical, though. “I do myself a disservice to feel this week, to be this nervous,” Sim sings.
The slow burning pop of “A Violent Noise” continues to build and tease a climactic dance drop that never happens. Croft’s guitar builds from slow arpeggio to a dirty blues riff while Smith’s percussion also builds in intensity without catharsis.“Performance” is vintage XX, with sparse grooves that allows the echo of silence to punctuate Croft’s soulful croon. “If I scream at the top of my lungs, will you hear what I don’t say?” she asks.
While The XX’s first two albums were both excellent, their biggest flaw was in being so monochromatic. Though the songwriting and harmonies were great, the albums were lacking in diversity. By bringing in more pop flavor, The XX has released their greatest album yet, one that is still rooted in what they do best while offering a richer and more eclectic listening experience. From the softest, most brooding moments of “Brave For You” to the most energetic dance intensity of “On Hold,” I See You is a triumph.
