Project Description
THE XX + Kelela & KUČKA
@ The Domain, Sydney
20/01/18 (Live Review)
Reviewer – Yasmin Thus
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Sydney was the last stop on their acclaimed tour for ‘I See You’ and boy did they deliver. Surrounded by Sydney’s beautiful trees and city lights, on a balmy Saturday evening, the British Group played to a mass crowd.
The evening first began with KUČKA who had just come off the back of playing at Falls Festival, Field Day and as a support act for Vince Staples Sydney sideshow. Although the crowd for the evening was only just arriving in the peak of her set, KUČKA‘s angelic voice was to the perfect way to start. Overall, Kučka’s set is a bit of a mix between hip-hop, ambient electronic and almost a bit of a k-pop vibe. Playing a selection of her own songs, including ‘Honey‘, and ‘Divinity‘, she finished her set with her final two songs in which we featured with Australian artist FLUME, which were ‘Numb and Getting Colder‘ and ‘Hyperreal‘. The Perth-born singer is one to keep an eye on, with already a few collaborations under her belt (with the likes of ASAP Rocky, Fetty Wrap and Flume).
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We were then treated to artist KELALA, who was accompanied by two beautiful back-up vocals. Her vibe is much more of a soul and hip-hop vibe, but still a bit of an electronic undertone through-out. Dress head to toe in white, with long braids, her stage presence alone was enough to pump up the crowd for The XX. It was evident that much rehearsal had taken place prior to her set with her back-up vocals, as they were impossibly always on point with one another. Not one note hit wrong, all in perfect unison from one dramatic crescendo build to another. Highlight of the set was of course, one of her biggest hits ‘Take Me Apart‘ and ‘LMK’. I would definitely be rushing back to seeing one of her sets again, having only been just aware of who she was, I am very much a devote fan now, having listened to her latest album ‘Take Me Apart‘ on repeat for the last 48 hours.
With the crowd very much warmed up and ready to go, the stage went dark and rotating columns of mirrors appeared. To be expected really, for The XX are known just for their ambient vibe alone. The build up intended to heighten your senses, earn to hear what they will open with. Finally, Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim appear, with Jamie XX standing in the centre of them, slightly elevated on a riser. The second song (perhaps my favourite song and one key highlight of the evening) is ‘Say Something Loving‘, and the crowd just absolutely erupted. The beautifully crafted harmonies between each of their voices is what this band is built on.
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Another highlight of the set was the brass for ‘Dangerous’ which somehow ended up molding into ‘I Dare You‘. Towards the end of the set, they stop, and Jamie XX and Croft make a beautiful announcement, accompanied by rainbow lights behind them about how much they loved that Australia had finally said yes to Marriage Equality. It was such an emotional moment for not only the band, but the crowd (a Sydney crowd particularly).
My absolute favourite part of this whole set however, when they played Jamie XX’s remix of ‘On Hold‘ before launching into the original song. The roar of the crowd (including myself) was just euphoric. The final song to end the evening was ‘Angels‘ which just about left me in tears. After waiting some time to finally see The XX live, this was definitely worth waiting for.
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Praise for The xx – I See You
#1 ARIA Album Chart
Feature Album – triple j
“This isn’t a wholly new band, it is rather an extension of the band we knew, a maturation possibly, but definitely an expansion: of thought, emotion, confidence and expression.” – Sydney Morning Herald
“I See You…sounds like an attempt to incorporate everyone’s talents into a new version of their sound, one true to their roots but richer and more varied.” – Pitchfork, Best New Music
“Friends, I have some good news for you… 2017 will be superior to 2016. The xx have decreed it so.”– Herald Sun ★★★★
“I See You pulls off the feat of managing to sound both exactly like the xx and unlike anything they have done before.” – The Guardian ★★★★
“There is fanfare from the outset, heralding a new era for the xx…The group has managed to move unmistakably forward while still maintaining its unique sound.” – The Australian
“It’s the sound of the xx moving out of their natural habitat – the shadows – and towards the more experimental, wide-ranging palette that producer Jamie “xx” Smith painted… The future looks bright.”– Rolling Stone Australia ★★★★
“The difference between I See You and 2012’s Coexist is Jamie xx’s production; the inspired beats give every song a brimming optimism. A welcome, extroverted side to the band we haven’t seen before.” – Stack
“The xx come at us with a fresh new sound but, more than ever, their music has less to do with chromosomes and delivers two gentle kisses onto listeners’ cheeks.” – The Music
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