In Colour

by Jamie xx

Overview

Compared to Jamie xx's impact on music, it's easy to forget that he hasn't released much on his own. The distinctive yet surprisingly versatile blend of indie, R&B, and dance in his work with the xx, Gil Scott-Heron, and his remixes helped shape the sound of the late 2000s and 2010s, but his solo discography was limited to a handful of singles, many of which appear on his first full-length, In Colour. While one of his best singles, "All Under One Roof Raving," doesn't appear on the album, its balance of the kinetic and the atmospheric -- as well as its reverence for classic U.K. dance music -- is reflected on some of In Colour's brightest highlights. "Gosh" is hard-edged yet radiant, its juddering drum'n'bass rhythms and shouted samples adding heft and movement before swelling synths overtake the track like a sunrise after a long night out. For most of the album, Jamie xx uses his considerable gifts for atmosphere to make listeners remember the euphoria of dance music rather than immerse them in it. Despite its brassy flourishes, "Girl"'s filtered house is haunting and aloof instead of driving, while its former B-side "Sleep Sound" fades in and out like a dream. Given his skills as a collaborator, it's not surprising that some of In Colour's best moments occur when he shares the spotlight. While his reunion with xx bandmate Oliver Sim on the implosive "Stranger in a Room" is almost too reminiscent of their previous work, Romy Madley Croft remains one of his most inspiring muses. She gives In Colour's nostalgia more humanity on the beautifully blurred "Seesaw" and "Loud Places," where a sample of Idris Muhammad's joyous "Could Heaven Ever Be Like This" makes the contrast between then and now, and alone and together, all the more poignant. However, the album's most immediate moment belongs to Young Thug and Popcaan. Inspired by a drive from Manhattan to Brooklyn while listening to Hot 97, the summery "I Know There's Gonna Be (Good Times)" embraces pop, hip-hop, and dancehall in a way that feels evocative and forward-looking. As it moves from reflective to engaging and back again, In Colour covers the entire spectrum of Jamie xx's music, delivering flashes of brilliance along the way. ~ Heather Phares

Product Details

Release Date:	12/18/2020
Label:	Young Turks
UPC:	0889030022912
Rank:	732

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Jamie xx   Primary Artist
Romy   Guitar,Vocals,Featured Artist
Four Tet   Co-Producer
Romy Madley Croft   Guitar,Vocals,Sampling,Featured Artist
Oliver Sim   Vocals,Featured Artist
Young Thug   Vocals,Featured Artist
Popcaan   Vocals,Featured Artist

Technical Credits

Alicia Keys   Composer
Ted Daryll   Composer
Sylvia Robinson   Composer
Bob Wright   Composer
David Matthews   Composer
David Wrench   Mixing
John Robie   Composer
Romy   Vocal Samples
Rick Nowels   Composer
Arthur Baker   Composer
George Forrest   Composer
Brian Wilson   Composer
Dave Matthews   Composer
Kieran Hebden   Composer,Producer
Chet Forest   Composer
Erlend Oye   Composer
Hugh Masekela   Composer
Peter Buffett   Composer
Kerry Brothers   Composer
Robert Wright   Composer
Tom Elmhirst   Mixing
Marcin Oez   Composer
Billy Guy   Composer
Rasmus Haegg   Composer
Jamie Smith   Mixing,Artwork,Composer,Engineer,Producer
Tony Sarafino   Composer
Mary Buffett   Composer
Phil Lee   Artwork
Jeff Mehl   Composer
Mandy Parnell   Mastering
Taneisha Smith   Composer
Sebastian Maschat   Composer
Romy Madley Croft   Composer,Performer
Oliver Sim   Composer,Performer
Young Thug   Composer,Performer
Dan Lissvik   Composer
Rodaidh McDonald   Engineer
Alicia Augello Cook   Composer
Popcaan   Performer
Jamie xx   Performer
James Thomas Smith   Composer
Andre Sutherland   Composer
Joe Visciano   Engineer,Mixing Assistant
Haruko Mizoguchi   Composer
Anthony Sarafino   Composer
Jeffery Williams   Composer