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After a five year gap since their 2012 album Coexist, The XX have returned with a dense album filled with rich musical ideas and mature, thoughtful lyrics. I See You appears more collaborative than those previous, embracing Jamie xx more while retaining the authentic melancholic story telling of Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim. Perhaps one may criticize The XX for jumping on band member Jamie XX’s recent success following the release of his solo album In Colour. However, a more optimistic view is that the group have managed to combine all of their ideas to create a thoughtful and intricate piece of art.
Given the time gap and also the success of both The XX and Jamie XX, one might imagine that the creation of this third album would be a struggle. On first listen it sounded forced, even bordering on cliché. At times, Romy’s vocals felt false and contrived. However, as I listened further I couldn’t help but notice the maturity and cohesion within this impressive album. The album is bold and expansive, covering a wide range of genres. It begins with a club anthem titled “Dangerous”. This is an upbeat track layered with trumpets and is heavily influenced by Jamie XX’s work. This is where some fans of the previous albums may question the direction of their most recent release. However, the album begins to establish a theme and a mood with the second track, “Say Something Loving”. This is where we hear the distinctive harmonies of Oliver and Romy combine to create one of the standout tracks on the album. The listeners are reunited with the familiar vulnerability through use of lyrics such as “I do myself a disservice/ To be this weak, to be this nervous”. Touches of Jamie XX’s sampling combined with misty vocals, echoic drum patterns, and atmospheric swelling guitars settle us into the album and remind us of the band who provided such landmark songs as “Angels” and “Intro”.
The album discusses themes such as letting go of youth, embracing adult life, fame, and maturity. It’s an album which focuses on a movement from self-criticism to self-improvement, and displays methods of coping with change and loss. “Replica” discusses Oliver and Romy’s rise to fame and adulthood, and their desire to avoid becoming a carbon copy of those who came before them. Other songs such as “A Violent Noise” deal with the difficulty involved in letting go of youth, coping with insecurities, and embracing responsibilities, showing a certain vulnerability The next track “Brave For You” is an emotional ode to Romy’s recently deceased parents. Minimal instrumentation is used by the band to give Romy the platform she requires to convey the raw emotion present in this song. Romy states that she will do them proud in this slow, heartfelt, and ambient ballad. Musically, The XX manage to mirror these themes by using sparse, slow, atmospheric and unpredictable arrangements in more vulnerable songs such as “Lips” and “Brave For You”. In contrast, upbeat anthems such as “On Hold” and “Dangerous” use driving rhythms and fast tempo samples to keep the listener interested and drive home the overall message of the album: a movement from self-pity and insecurity to embracing identity and change.
My favorite track from the album is “Performance”, the most genuine song on the album. This four minute, six seconds song contains musical depth and creativity, but it is presented in a pure manner that makes it unforgettable. Interesting and engaging production are noticeable but stripped back enough to hear the deeply felt vocals. This song lyrically captures what I See You is all about, the journey to maturity and acceptance. Uncertainty is first introduced by way of the unpredictable nature of the music while melancholy and vulnerability are featured through Romy’s melodies. A change of tone can be seen in the second verse where Romy states that she no longer changes for her lover, but she changes for herself. This idea summarizes the entire album, which results in 2017 beginning with a more grown-up and refined version of The XX.
Overall this album borders on experimental and bold while still retaining what we love about The XX. It’s the third album we’ve all been waiting for.
