Unlucky for some, but certainly not for me, Friday 13th of January marks the long awaited returns of The xx, Bonobo and Wiley.
I See You, The xx
Jamie, Oliver and Romy have had teased us with tracks ‘On Hold’ and ‘Say Something Loving’ from their third studio album, 'I See You', but the wait came to an end on Friday. Following the 2012 release of 'Coexist', a typically sombre and emotive affair, 'I See You', personifies a certain maturity the band have developed during their time off. Jamie has forged himself a solo career as a world-conquering producer and DJ, and 'I See You' seems to harness Jamie’s ability to create electronic beats and melodies that inspire movements and emotions. Perhaps due to the greater influence of Jamie’s solo work, the album takes on a more euphoric feel than its predecessors. Highlights include electro-choral beauty, 'Lips', and the enraptured third single, 'I Dare You'.
Migration, Bonobo
A similar lengthy quiet spell also came to and end for Brighton born, LA based DJ and producer Bonobo. 'Migration', the first studio offering since 2013s 'The North Borders', is a generally slower and more down-tempo record. The album itself is based around the controversial and provocative subject of migration, but little of the raw emotion surrounding the political theme is conveyed. Simon Green’s move to LA seems to have prompted a move towards a more gentle, but perhaps also less forward-thinking, take on the niche genre he helped create. Don’t get me wrong, the album is mega chill and perfect revision music, and 'Kerala' and 'Bambro Koyo Ganda' are bangers start to finish, but the rest of the album seems a bit nonchalant for me.
Godfather, Wiley
'The Godfather of Grime' himself also returned with 17 tracks of unflinching and uncompromising ‘eski’. If 'Snakes and Ladders', Wileys last album, was his return to his grime and garage roots after a brief but successful venture into the world of pop (‘Heatwave’ hit number 1 in 2013), then 'Godfather' is him getting comfy in his throne. The album is feature heavy, with Wiley protégé after Wiley protégé putting in verses; the likes of Skepta, JME and Newham Generals all come in hard. The variety of tracks is a stand-out feature of the album, from the chilled-out, slow-flow, retro synth, ‘U Were Always’ to original, aggressive beats and verses on ‘on this’ and ‘Like It Or Not’. Wiley is back. This album is a terrifying masterstroke, crushing any claims he was ‘losing it’.