They’re New Here: Gil Scott-Heron and Jamie xx
I did not become someone different
that I did not want to be.
But I’m new here,
will you show me around?
So who exactly is Gil Scott-Heron and Jamie xx? More importantly, why should you care who they are?
Here’s a quick recap if you want to be in the know:
Gil Scott-Heron: 60-something American musician, spoken word artist, and all around sincere fellow. If you attended a liberal institution of higher learning like I did, you probably know him best for his song “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised,” which for some reason typically arises somewhere in discussion during lectures for Intro to Sociology. In my opinion, his repertoire of work falls somewhere in between the Harlem Renaissance and the neo-Renaissance of Def Jam Poetry of the late 1990s-early 2000s. His work has stood the test of time, and in addition, the release of his new album in over a decade, I’m New Here, bridges the gap between generations. If you need further investigation, pick up an album by Kanye West and see what allusions he makes to Scott-Heron.
Now, Jamie xx: 20-something Brit and beatmaker for introverted-all-around minimalist trio The xx. Armed with just ProTools and an MPC, Jamie xx’s work in The xx along with his remixes proves once again that you can say more by saying less. Much like his persona, this description of Jamie will remain concise and simple, leaving his music to speak for itself.
And now the important question you’re asking yourself: why should I care that Gil Scott-Heron and Jamie xx made an album together? Before you become washed over with apathy, hear me out for a second. I believe that the sheer concept of We’re New Here, the dynamic between the two, and the point each of them are currently at in their careers is reason enough for you to give this album a thorough once-over.
Here we have young’n Jamie Smith reaching out to borderline-retiree Gil Scott-Heron, two people who couldn’t be anymore different, creating a whole album together. Yes, the tracks are remixed from I’m New Here, but Jamie xx takes things in a different direction.
Without delving into the intricacies of each track, many of the instrumentals themselves can be listened to as straight dance-ish/dubstep-y/dream-like tracks, however, the addition of Scott-Heron’s spoken word pieces and mantra-esque singing of lyrics makes the album appear slightly left of center. At times, I find myself wanting to attempt a small hipster two-step while sitting in my chair, but I also find myself wanting to create a thesis that analyzes the relation of black-America to contemporary social issues in an ever-evolving country. This bewilderment between the pleasure-lobe and academic-lobe of my brain lasts for nearly the whole album, and that’s what I think makes this album delicious.
Before I start babbling on any further, I’ll just quit while I’m ahead and leave the rest of the album for you to decide on. Personally, even though I know this LP won’t make it to heavy rotation in the clubs or on the radio, We’re New Here creates a lasting, even haunting, impression on anyone who listens to it.
