Since The xx won the 2010 Mercury Prize, Jamie Smith has been in demand as a DJ as well as a remixer and producer for Drake, Adele and Radiohead.
While a solo album often suggests a group’s days are numbered, there’s no sign of him becoming an ex-xx member just yet.
In Colour is a sonic sidestep from the trio’s sparse, monochrome melodies, which frees up Smith to explore British club culture.
Gosh’s breakbeats are devoured by an epic Eighties synth, the glitchy Sleep Sound is worthy of Aphex Twin and The Rest is Noise’s thudding rhythm melts away to reveal a tinkling piano.
Both band mates are on board: Oliver Sim’s Stranger in a Room and Romy Madley Croft’s Loud Places are stand-out tracks.
It bodes well for The xx’s next album.
(Young Turks/XL)
