There’s highly anticipated, and then there’s Jamie xx’s In Waves.
It’s the album everyone’s been waiting for—no, scratch that, it’s the album everyone’s been begging for. But xx is a hard man to catch, with his creativity spanning multiple different escapes and an almost constant touring schedule; leading to decade-long wait. Which, for a lesser artist, could have proven a very detrimental move, with the quicker shelf-life of electronic music sub-genres often meaning that after an extended hiatus, an electronic producer’s return can either sound outdated or unoriginal compared to the countless copycats who have come along and jacked the same style (looking at you, Flume).
Label: XL / Remote Control
Release Date: 20 Sep
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His sound possesses a timeless quality that remains ever-relevant. It’s both familiar and entirely original, balancing mainstream appeal with a unique, influential style.
But Jamie xx isn’t your standard electronic producer. His sound possesses a timelessness that’ll never go out of style. It’s both familiar and entirely original, balancing mainstream appeal with a unique, influential style that proves itself different without isolating itself or being too difficult to groove to.
Although, how does it fare up against the countless copycat’s who have replicated xx’s style over the last decade?
Pretty darn effortlessly, it seems. Jamie xx is regarded as an innovator for a reason, and on In Waves, he proves yet again why his name has made such a dent on the modern day dance music scene. Honestly, it’s as if he never left. Tracks like ‘Treat Each Other Right’ and ‘The Feeling I Get…’ channel the unrelenting overlays of vocal harmonies, off-kilter break’s and shuffling rhythms of ‘In Colour’, while ‘Waited All Night’ channels lofi grooves alongside the inclusion of ex co-collaborator Romy to deliver a peak The XX performance that drips with early 2010’s nostalgia.
Yet, it doesn’t always stick to what’s familiar, Jamie xx still manages to hit you with more than a few curve balls throughout the latter end of the album. Dancefloor melter, ‘Still Summer’, smothers with sheer walls of shimmery synths, ascending melodies and compressing basslines that feel like the walls are closing in on you. ‘All You Children (ft. The Avalanches)’ slaps with tribal rhythms and hypnotic overlays of vocals. While standout, ‘Breather’, ignites into turbulent hyperpop beats, warm layers of dissonant, shoegaze synths, thumping basslines, and a profound spoken word interlude.
The same technique brings in closer, ‘Falling Together’, channelling elements of Faithless’ ‘Insomnia’ and Overmono’s ‘I Have A Love’ with its gradual, ratting builds, infectious basslines, and etheral scouse voice over, which feels straight out of the Trainspotting soundtrack.
It’s the perfect dose of xx’s old jungle house style mixed with a healthy dose of 90’s garage trance, highlighting once again why Jamie xx is truly a one of a kind artist. Others may mimic his style, but no one quite does it like he does.
In Waves for Jamie xx is out today! Stream it here
