As producer and percussionist in the Mercury Prize winning band The XX, Jamie Smith is riding on a wave of both critical acclaim and mainstream success. Now, he turns his skills (well honed in DJ sets across the country, one of which I was lucky enough to have witnessed at Area 51) to his solo project, which has been imaginatively called 'Jamie XX'.
'Far Nearer' is built around the calypso vibes of a kettle drum, which drives the song forward and doesn't get overpowered by the electronic elements of the track.
Consequently, the song has an organic, chilled out vibe which lends itself well to some background music action. But, where other Jamie XX remixes concentrate on vocal lines (His rework of 'You've Got The Love' and the XX's own 'Basic Space' being notable examples), this is beat and bass orientated, so much so it's easy to imagine it being dropped in a busy club with consequent and possibly obligatory shape pulling. It's something sublime and rare - a track audacious enough to connect to two different audiences - those coming back from the party and those just about ready to get started in the revelry.
The future of the genre 'dubstep' is confused, as is the definition of that very word. With terms like 'future garage' and rumours of a 2-step revival afoot, precisely where to place this track amidst the shifting paradigms of genre is uncertain. What is certain is that Jamie XX continues to be at the forefront of innovative and original electronic music on this fair isle, and 'Far Nearer' is a great example of the potential he has when torn from his monochrome bandmates and presented as a solo artist.
Link: myspace // wikipedia // last.fm //
Words: Darcy Mitchell
'Far Nearer' is built around the calypso vibes of a kettle drum, which drives the song forward and doesn't get overpowered by the electronic elements of the track.
Consequently, the song has an organic, chilled out vibe which lends itself well to some background music action. But, where other Jamie XX remixes concentrate on vocal lines (His rework of 'You've Got The Love' and the XX's own 'Basic Space' being notable examples), this is beat and bass orientated, so much so it's easy to imagine it being dropped in a busy club with consequent and possibly obligatory shape pulling. It's something sublime and rare - a track audacious enough to connect to two different audiences - those coming back from the party and those just about ready to get started in the revelry.The future of the genre 'dubstep' is confused, as is the definition of that very word. With terms like 'future garage' and rumours of a 2-step revival afoot, precisely where to place this track amidst the shifting paradigms of genre is uncertain. What is certain is that Jamie XX continues to be at the forefront of innovative and original electronic music on this fair isle, and 'Far Nearer' is a great example of the potential he has when torn from his monochrome bandmates and presented as a solo artist.
Link: myspace // wikipedia // last.fm //
Words: Darcy Mitchell
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