Electronic songs are like onions: They have layers.
Regardless of whether you read that in a Scottish Ogre accent, the underlying premise remains true; the most interesting part of electronic music is hearing all of the different sounds producers bring together to create a single track. On a song like “Gosh,” In Colour’s opener, listeners can easily recognize each of the layers being mixed in. This makes for an experience that feels immersive and more like a live performance than a studio production. And luckily for us, “Gosh” is just the first of many treats throughout this album.
Among the many praises In Colour has received is the variety of instruments utilized throughout. For example, the steel drum and wooden blocks used on “Obvs” are much appreciated to say the least, as they demonstrate that percussion is more than a mere backing beat. And “Just Saying,” despite its brevity, brings about a nice ambiance thanks to its combination of keys and metallic percussion. On “Stranger in a Room,” an Interstellar-esque intro leads into the serene vocals of Jamie’s the xx bandmate Oliver Slim and some clean guitar, resulting in a song with strong indie-alternative vibes. This three-track cluster, however, is just a sample of the variety Jamie xx has to offer.
Moving sequentially, “Hold Tight” is a great instrumental that builds similarly to “Gosh” and has a great transition into “Loud Places,” an album highlight we’ve already covered in great detail. While writer Ryan Thomas mentioned that “Loud Places” is “the best thing he [Jamie xx] has ever done,” that was written before “I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)” — maybe the actual best thing Jamie xx has ever produced — was released as a single.
“Good Times” is a carefree jam that meshes three different vocal styles: the oldie-but-goodie R&B harmonies of The Persuasions, the Jamaican dancehall cadence of Popcaan, and multiple verses from the skyrocketing, carefree MC Young Thug. With Jamie’s feel-good beat backing these voices, it’s safe to say that this is a perfect song for summer.
With In Colour, Jamie xx flexes his skills and displays his range; he shows how an electronic album can have just the right amount of vocal features, and he shows how an electronic album can ultimately break through genre labels. I can’t wait to see how he works this album into his live set.