Jamie xx - The Penultimate Producing.

It's more than obvious to say that Jamie Smith,formally known in the power trio of The xx, has been leading up for the climax of this year to be one of the UK's if not the world's most anticipated DJ.

So, what's all the fuss? well, I can say proudly  that the most mind ravelling tune I've heard this week was easily his newly released single, 'Sleep Sound' which has held listeners in a captivity filled with melting strums and complete cultural ambiance. Fitting you would assume, for his track record. Just taking a look into his wondrous remix in 2010 of 'You've Got The Love' , it turned Florence Welch's vocals into wishing well of dynamic bouncing waist twists, along with the collaboration Romy and Ollie's moodily washed out voices. As well as remixes on Radiohead's 'Bloom'. His 2011 remix album collab with Gil Scott Heron in 2011, 'We're New Here' is a bass driven, lo fi retrospective of a more up-tempo, post dubstep side, not quite verging inside the genre.  Or take the various remixes on 'Coexist', here you most likely see more of Jamie's experimental side on this second album mainly because it gives so many opportunities for not only the band, but as a producer himself  to dive into each spell-casting beat that transmits over in songs like 'Sunset' and 'Far Nearer'. I don't want to go to heavy on Coexsist's analysis but if like me, you've listened to that album 20 times over and watched it dozens more, it's a beautifully cast story between his other two band mates, Romy and Oliver. However, one more stand out is from both albums (especially 'Coexist' ) with regards to that, none of these stories would be heard without each synth, delay and bass line flowing between the vocals. In effect Jamie xx is the skeleton, foundation, steady structure or what ever you want to call it for his shared or individual projects. 

And, of course it's not all just in The xx that he gained his success from, but we can't forget that back upon a fate-fulfilled day in 2005 where he met his fellow band mates in a classroom, thus causing their post teen anx to actually provide him with the biggest booster step for diversity in the South London electronica scene. His mixes of soft background booming combined with steel pan vibrations were a refreshing step away from the infectious streets of dubstep. On every live performance, he adds in hundreds of edited mixes. For instance when I saw the xx at Glastonbury 2013 songs like; 'Reunion', 'Sunset',' Shelter', 'Night Time', 'Intro', 'Tides'-(the list goes on) were all merged with certain other backing improvs, he progresses into a creative spiral of a kind of intellectual indulgence which follows to the audience as a world class, dream-like set structure. But I guess the real enhancer for all this was right at the beginning with the signing to London label Young Turks, ultimately helping to support the The xx's meaning of tampered minimalism. It's identified the label also, to be an ever foreseen success. 

So why now? after all the triamphs of The xx and his headlining underground sets, what is the significance of one single? Lets start with the boundaries he's been keeping with for a few years, well since The xx have announced their part-time break whilst manoeuvring into a new album, this in my opinion can stretch out the barrier a lot wider. As a fan, I'm not saying he's ever been restricted (if anything the opposite) but with no guitars and just him behind the speakers it's opening up a side we haven't seen on the surface. The xx after all have such a signature sound, which still seeps through in his individual works yet almost un-kranks the floodgates from his mind.

Okay, after all this what's really expected of Sleep Sound? The intro opens up with a distorted harp ruffle, as minimised starts are well recognised of him. However already 20 seconds through stronger beats and small crescendos brought in with "oh oh oh oh ohhs....yeah" into a varying tone of underground club muffles. This moment of the track sort of transports you down into a cosmological club only to emerge into a harmony of metallic, soulful voices. Like stepping out of some underground hub at Glastonbury. It mixes through with enlightening hoots and piped synths all to incorporate a midnight lime-lighted scratchy feel to the song. For the last minute of the total sprawl it focuses down on a steadier, more merged beat all to faze out in a split second. A lot to take in from the 6 minutes of fresh perspective, you can pick up on such a whir of an atmospheric triumph from Jamie xx.

It's not just this single either, as ever the web has been jumping left right and centre over the initial line up for Glastonbury 2014, a set from Jamie included. He's appeared there individually on at least one occasion back in 2011 (which shamefully I missed) so be expecting an emerging thud to thunder down on you as soon as you enter the Silver Hayes Dance Village. A headlining slot on the Wow! or Sonic stage is inevitable. Keep your eyes peeled for any last second announcements down the local venue cellar too, he's already been announcing dates as such:

May:- Movement Electronic Festival 2014- Detroit, USA.
       - Life Festival- Dublin, Ireland

       - Love Saves The Day -Bristol, UK.

       - Primavera Sound Festival 2014- Barcelona, Spain

June: -Field Day 2014-London, UK.

      - The Parklife Weekender-Manchester, UK.

      - The Union BBQ 2014-Washington DC-USA.

      - Glastonbury Festival 2014- Pilton, Somerset, UK.

      - Flow Festival 2014- Helsinki, Finland.

August: -Unknown Festival Croatia 2014- Rovinj, Croatia.