I See You (CD) | Mint (M) Mint (M)

BRAND NEW

Label: Young Turks – 161-2
Format: CD, Album
Country: US
Released: 2017
Genre: Electronic, Rock, Pop
Style: Indie Pop

1        Dangerous    4:11
2        Say Something Loving    3:58
3        Lips    3:20
4        A Violent Noise    3:47
5        Performance    4:06
6        Replica    4:09
7        Brave For You    4:13
8        On Hold    3:44
9        I Dare You    3:53
10        Test Me    3:55

Phonographic Copyright ℗ – Young Turks Recordings
Copyright © – Young Turks Recordings
Published By – Universal Music Publishing Ltd.
Recorded At – The Park Avenue Armory
Recorded At – XL Studios
Recorded At – Marfa Recording Company
Recorded At – Greenhouse Studios Iceland
Recorded At – Perfect Sounds Studios
Recorded At – The Church, London
Recorded At – The Square, London
Recorded At – Fortress Studios
Recorded At – RAK Studios
Engineered At – RAK Studios
Engineered At – Strongroom
Manufactured By – The ADS Group – 6745-CD-1191
A&R, Management – Caius Pawson
Art Direction, Design – Phil Lee (5)
Cello – Charlotte Eksteen, Peter Gregson
Engineer – Marta Salogni
Management – Simon Guzylack
Mastered By – John Davis (4)
Music By, Art Direction, Design, Guitar, Vocals – Romy Madley Croft
Music By, Bass, Vocals, Photography By – Oliver Sim
Music By, Producer, Engineer, Programmed By, Mixed By, Arranged By [Strings], Drums, Keyboards, Synthesizer [Synths] – Jamie Smith (4)
Producer, Engineer – Rodaidh McDonald
Programmed By [Additional], Mixed By – David Wrench
Viola – Emma Owens, Laurie Anderson (5)
Violin – Eos Counsell, James Underwood, John Smart, Oli Langford*
Barcode (UPC): 889030016126

Personnel: Romy Madley Croft (vocals, guitar); Oliver Sim (vocals); James Underwood, John Smart, Eos Counsell, Oli Langford (violin); Laurie Anderson , Emma Owens (viola); Peter Gregson, Charlotte Eksteen (cello); Jamie Smith (synthesizer, drums, programming); David Wrench (programming). Audio Mixers: Jamie Smith; David Wrench. Recording information: Fortress studios, London (03/2014/08/2016); Greenhouse Studios, Reykjavik (03/2014/08/2016); Marfa Recording Company, Marfa (03/2014/08/2016); Perfect Sound Studios, Los Angeles (03/2014/08/2016); RAK Studios, London (03/2014/08/2016); The Park Avenue Armory, XL Studio, New York (03/2014/08/2016). Photographer: Oliver Sim. In music and love, routine can be deadly. The exquisite stillness of the xx's music was so distinctive and influential that, by the time of Coexist, it felt dangerously close to confining them instead of defining them. Given the half decade between that album and I See You, change wasn't just necessary, it was inevitable. Jamie xx's solo work signaled that something different was on the way, and in retrospect, Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim's cameos on In Colour feel like previews for these songs about being musically and romantically bold. I See You unleashes the xx's passion with swifter tempos, fuller arrangements, and a newfound heat in Sim and Croft's vocals on songs like "On Hold," which also showcases Jamie xx's audacious production skills as he turns a snippet of Hall & Oates' "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" into an irresistibly jittery hook. The band's commitment to taking chances reaps rewards elsewhere: "Dangerous" kicks off I See You with a brass fanfare that's about as far as the xx can get from the plaintive seduction of their early work. Indeed, the album's happiest songs are among the best, whether Sim and Croft are falling in love all over again over contrail guitars on "Say Something Loving" or letting a relentless beat give their flirtation momentum on "I Dare You." When the xx pare back, they do it with purpose, and still find subtle ways to push themselves. In another act's hands, the propulsive self-doubt of "A Violent Noise" would be a club banger, but they opt for simmering tension instead of drops and peaks. Croft shows off her seldom-heard upper register on "Lips" and "Performance," one of several moments on I See You where the band's self-awareness borders on meta. Sometimes, this becomes too literal and repetitive; as enjoyable as the sultry swagger of "Replica" and heartfelt balladry of "Brave for You" are, it's hard to shake the feeling that the xx are retracing their steps. Nitpicking aside, the risks they take on this album pay off: I See You is some of their most captivating music since their debut. ~ Heather Phares

• Media Condition: Mint (M)
• Sleeve Condition: Mint (M)
• Format Detail: CD standard Jewel Case
• Format: Rock
• Genre: ALT/INDIE
• Format Type: CD
• Released: 1/13/17