After whetting our appetites with "New York Is Killing Me," Jamie xx releases We're New Here, a thirteen-track full-length featuring The xx producer's reinterpretation of Gil-Scott Heron's 2010 album I'm New Here. The aforementioned track (also included here) perfectly fused short snippets of GSH's bluesy vocals with Jamie xx's future bass sensibilities, and pairings of equal quality can be found in tracks like "Home," "My Cloud," and "I'll Take Care Of U," which feature sophisticated beats, lofty, emotive synth work, and thick, heavy low-end work. Also check out "Running," as Heron's spoken word piece rides beautifully over a melodic and dark hip-hop/new school beats-influenced instrumental, or some of the interludes like "Jazz" and "I've Been Me," which are short but nevertheless capture the essence of this project. Recommended.

• black vinyl pressing
• housed in die-cut sleeve w/ printed foldout insert
• digital download included
• music label: XL Recordings 2011

reviewed by nakinboots 03/2011

ALSO AVAILABLE

• Gil Scott-Heron: I'm New Here Vinyl LP