As someone who’s a modest fan of electronic music, I’ve always found it hard finding electronic music projects that I can listen to minus the allure of going to clubs and taking party drugs. With In Colour, I’ve found that project.
Jamie xx, the production mastermind behind The xx, has long been a massive dance music connoisseur. While producing The xx’s first two albums, Jamie put out a handful of solo electronic joints, dug himself in as one of the more impressive dance DJ’s around, and even crafted a collaborative EP with the late, great Gil Scott Heron. It’s been long awaited, Jamie’s solo plunge into electronic music, and In Colour doesn’t disappoint in the slightest.
The album itself is a cocktail of classic electronic sounds; ranging from dancehall influences to Chicago house cuts and of course UK rave music. What Jamie does on In Colour is blend all of the styles of electronic music that influenced him to make a modern interpretation or timeline of where electronic music has been and where it is today. The album opens with “Gosh”, one of the more rave-like tracks on the project. What seem to be actual recordings of UK ravers from the early 90’s gives the track a live feeling while the song’s driving beat propels you to dance no matter what. “Sleep Sound”, the next track, takes the mood down a bit and delivers as one of the more peaceful, groove-inducing electronic tracks you’ll ever hear. By the time “Loud Places” featuring Romy of The xx kicks in, you’re probably fully entranced in the general feeling of In Colour.
Then there’s “I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)” featuring Young Thug, which was undeniably one of the best songs of the summer of 2015. It’s dancey and playful, morphing a dancehall riddem with a pop-like demeanor and uses The Persuasion’s classic “Good Times” as the core sample. Young Thug and Jamie blend perfectly on the track, creating a cheerful, tropical mood that wraps up the album in a flawless way. By the time the album’s final track “Girl” is through, you’ve gone through a complete run through of Jamie xx’s favorite music styles and sounds that blend together to create one of the most impressive electronic albums in recent memory.
You can stream In Colour on Apple Music and Spotify.
