I have always visualized xx as a magnificent microcosm in itself, since meeting the Englishman, preparing for an interview in 2012 on the occasion of the release of the second album coexistsplaced between the 2009 business card of the same name and the latest I see you 2017. A microcosm, a self-contained entity that speaks to black and white but refracted – in particular, the refracting wave of dreams and synth R&B with a high generational impact. At that time, the immediate participants defined themselves, in fact, as “three independent individuals who merge into a single whole The xx”. Despite the coolness that descended from the tops of indie clubs, the trio’s offering was marked by purity: songwriting devoid of masculine spirit in performance. less – more; about a very clear sound, often and willingly reproduced in the first person; approach, from real control freaks, optionally from sports with a show. In short, their music that never served as entertainment. In any case, it is oriented towards the inevitably modern internal maceration.
The solo rehearsals of the three friends who arrived and took as long as they needed should then be seen as strokes of color, even an autonomy within an autonomy, despite the great confidence that came with working in the writing and recording studio. Eloquent in this sense from the very beginning Jamie Smith, simply in art Jaime xxwhich he called his debut In colorin 2005 (classic electronic ten, which was gradually followed by explosive singles, I don’t know, LET’S DO IT AGAIN AND KILL DEM), while using their companions in most songs with the vocalist, confirming one coexistence even in parallel. We return to the discussion of the family of entities mentioned above, and so much so that Oliver Simdebuted in 2022 with disgusting bastard, to create a coming out, backed up by an autobiographical mini-film directed by Yann Gonzalez, entrusted the production to Jamie himself. Oliver E RomiRomy Madeley Croft, nee Romy Madeley Croft, have known each other since childhood. Now the first step in the long run her turn to listen to the national anthem after quarantine Lifespan 2020 and related remix EPs.
in the air it then ties in with both of the above works, both with Oliver’s, a general statement about his own strange past, and Jamie’s, in a purely club setting. “Can you make it louder? / Thank you, you hear at the beginning love her, the first piece in the line-up, which begins with a few notes between beats and keys and turns into a rhythmic crescendo – “Dance with me / Shoulder to shoulder”. Romy is floating in the air, in love with life, with music and with his wife, co-author, film director and photographer Vik Lentenya, but this record should be understood as her fresh and restorative breath of fresh expressive air, pleasant even for the listener, although not necessarily. love her however, this is the best episode in the program, along with the most recent excerpt Seaa catchy love song with post-rock guitar parts typical of The xx, which did not accidentally fall into the hands of Romy.
Seven more songs are involved in the appeal – from the most introspective. twice to the sun She is on my mind closures, which are quite good, up to the single stronga celebration of vulnerability, aided by a video clip in the company of his cousin, who was also an orphan mother, and two interludes, i.e. DMC Extension and the title track with American singer-songwriter Beverly Glenn-Copeland. One of the other singles is connected to the last one by means of sampling. Enjoy your lifean active anthem in the style of Groove Armada, inspired by the evening when he ties her up Robin he took Romy to a concert in Stockholm Hence, Glenn-Copeland is involved, as is the inevitable Jamie involved in button control.
In general, we focus on ballads at the intersection of pop, house and soul, which should sound in the track, but often with rather elementary solutions, direct, but not banal, but never inventive or particularly refined. In the control room they mostly alternate Fred again.., pseudonym of Fred John Philip Gibson and Stuart Price. Romy formulated her proposal as “emotional music for dance” able to combine the resume of a composer, even a third party, for Dua Lipa, Jenny Beth, Halsey, King Princess., etc. – and DJ, as well as basic universal feelings, such as joy and sadness, conveyed, as usual, by the cantatas “new Everything But The Girl” of great communicative efficiency. That is why we also talked about album break through.
in the air it was a step necessary for Romi, for example disgusting bastard it was for Oliver Sim – and before that In color for Jamie, of course, although it’s here primarily for reasons of growth on the sound that happened at the right time, and not a liberating personal catharsis. Now that the powers have been implemented, we look forward to reunionto return to a meaningful main project and return to one of the most beautiful tracks coexists.