Description
Jamie XX – In Waves – Vinyl Record
Jamie xx – In Waves, released on September 20, 2024, is the long-awaited follow-up to his acclaimed 2015 solo debut In Colour. After nearly a decade of working behind the scenes—producing, remixing, DJing, and occasionally collaborating—Jamie xx re-emerged with In Waves, a record that builds upon his signature sound while pushing deeper into club-oriented, rhythmically complex, and emotionally nuanced territory. Where In Colour was a kaleidoscopic meditation on UK electronic music and nostalgia, In Waves is bolder, louder, and more immediate, channeling the release and tension of post-pandemic dance floors with a more global, collaborative energy.
The title, In Waves, is both literal and metaphorical. Jamie described it as reflecting the way life has come at him over the past few years—emotionally, socially, and artistically—in unpredictable surges. The album mirrors this concept musically, unfolding with pulses and swells, ebbs and bursts, tracing the highs of communal dance-floor euphoria and the lows of private introspection. It is an album shaped by the rhythmic flow of club life, but one that doesn’t lose sight of the introspective core that has always underpinned Jamie xx’s music, both as a solo artist and a member of The xx.
Stylistically, In Waves ventures further into the sweaty heart of club music than his previous work. It draws on UK garage, house, techno, dub, and bass music, but infuses these with a warm, human touch through densely layered textures, chopped vocal samples, and live-sounding instrumentation. Jamie built the album primarily on an iPad, using samples from obscure global records and field recordings collected over several years. His production remains surgical yet soulful, often deploying unexpected beat switches and dreamy, manipulated vocal loops that feel both nostalgic and future-forward.
The album features a number of standout collaborations that help define its tone. The high-energy single “Baddy on the Floor,” featuring Honey Dijon, is a thumping, gospel-infused house anthem that exudes queer joy and dance-floor liberation. “Life,” featuring Swedish pop icon Robyn, introduces a more melodic, bittersweet tone, reflecting themes of connection, aging, and resilience with one of the album’s most infectious choruses. Anderson .Paak, The Avalanches, Panda Bear, and Kelsey Lu all make appearances throughout the record, lending their unique voices to Jamie’s dynamic, shifting soundscapes. Unlike the fragmented, sample-based nature of In Colour, these collaborations feel more integrated and purposeful—woven directly into the emotional fabric of each track rather than added as features for pop appeal.
One of the album’s early singles, “Treat Each Other Right,” serves as a thematic and sonic mission statement. With its layered beats and vocal snippets repeating the titular phrase, it suggests a call for unity and empathy, framed within a high-energy, percussion-heavy structure. Tracks like “Still Summer” and “Waited All Day” slow the tempo and bring a sense of longing and nostalgia, offering breathers in between the more intense club tracks. These moments help give the album a natural arc, much like a great DJ set, moving listeners through emotional highs and lows, euphoria and introspection, chaos and calm.
Despite its conceptual strength and production finesse, In Waves has received a few criticisms. Some reviewers, such as The Financial Times, noted that while the album is ambitious and technically dazzling, it occasionally lacks the emotional immediacy and cohesion that made In Colour so beloved. In attempting to push further into club territory, some tracks prioritize atmosphere over melodic clarity or lyrical engagement. Still, most critics and fans praised the album for its vitality, innovation, and depth, cementing Jamie xx’s status as one of electronic music’s most important and emotionally intelligent producers.
In Waves is more than just a sophomore album—it’s a reassertion of Jamie xx’s voice in the ever-shifting landscape of electronic music. It’s not simply a return, but an evolution: louder, looser, more collaborative, and more rooted in the physicality of sound and space. It captures the sensation of being immersed in music—whether on a crowded dance floor or in solitary reflection—offering a journey that moves, surges, and, as the title suggests, comes in waves.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Wanna
Treat Each Other Right
Waited All Night
Baddy On The Floor
Dafodil
Still Summer
Life
The Feeling I Get From You
Breather
All You Children
Every Single Weekend (Interlude)
Falling Together
