Everything We Know About The xx’s New Album ‘I See You’

The xx are back and they've got a new album coming. But things are a little bit different. The trio’s brave, brilliant new single ‘On Hold’ sees the group inch their closest yet to making a pop track, but if you’re a long-time fan of The xx, don’t let that put you off. ‘On Hold’ still sounds distinctly like the same three introverts from London you love.

The xx's debut, 2009's xx, sounded spacious and soulful. In comparison, this new single, featuring a Hall & Oates sample from ‘I Can’t Go For That’, ‘On Hold’ is warm and textured. You could definitely dance to it. (Yes, you’re allowed to dance to The xx.) ‘On Hold’ doesn’t sound a world away from Jamie xx’s In Colour, which makes the most sense in the world, considering that he’s in the frickin' band and hot off the release/tour of that Grammy-nominated record. It’s great, trust us. Give it a spin.

Yesterday, The xx, one of Britain’s most successful bands (other than them, only One Direction and Mumford & Sons have a gold certified debut in the USA in the last decade), have announced that they have a new album coming out. I See You will hit on January 13 2017, and, just like ‘On Hold’, that could be quite different, too.

For instance, The xx’s second album Coexist was made in isolation inside a small room in Angel, Islington, with the group refusing to play anything to outsiders until they deemed it ready. “It was made in a weird, dark place for all of us,” says Jamie Smith (AKA Jamie xx). I See You received different treatment.

In comparison, the creative process behind I See You resembles something more akin to a globe-trotting Bond movie, with the group travelling to Los Angeles, Marfa, Texas, New York, Iceland and, of course, London, between March 2014 and August 2016. (DISCLAIMER: No villains – or white cats - were harmed in the making of I See You.)

Texas. LA. A warm, dance-y single. A new record that sounds, according to Jamie, “triumphant and celebratory.” Hell, even The xx’s new press shots (above) look bright and breezy.

Speaking to Julie Adenuga on Beats 1, the group said that the album is "a collection of quite different sounding songs, different from each other.” What can we expect? Nobody knows. (Apart from The xx. They definitely know.)

The xx have turned a corner and are moving into fairly unchartered territory. It’s exciting. The band’s ambition is admirable. It could’ve been a mistake, but as ‘On Hold’ shows, the best of The xx might just be ahead.

“It’s strange to like the record as much as I like it,” says Jamie. “It’s about seeing reflections of yourself in other people. It’s basically us understanding each other better. Being pals again. We went through lots of ways of saying that and I See You seemed the best.”

I See You is released on 13th January 2017. Pre-order it HERE.

here’s some more information:

I See You will be available on CD, LP and digitally, with each physical format featuring a debossed mirri board sleeve. There will be three different vinyl versions of the album, with full product descriptions as follows:

- Standard Vinyl: 10 tracks, in a debossed mirri board sleeve with a download enclosed for the US and CD copy of the album in EU/UK

- Indie Vinyl: 10 tracks on limited-edition clear vinyl, in a debossed mirri board sleeve with a download enclosed for the US and CD copy of the album in EU/UK. Available only via independent record stores.

- Deluxe Box Set: Silver mirri board debossed box containing the album on 180g heavyweight vinyl, with an extra 12” including 3 bonus tracks, album CD, enhanced CD featuring a live video of bonus track ‘Brave For You (Marfa Demo)’ and 3 exclusive prints by Alasdair McLellan.

The xx  –  I See You  tracklist:

1. Dangerous

2. Say Something Loving

3. Lips

4. A Violent Noise

5. Performance

6. Replica

7. Brave For You

8.  On Hold

9. I Dare You

10. Test Me