February 22, 2011

XL Recordings

1xLP

On paper, We're New Here is an album that has no business working as well as it does. In comparison with graceful jazz schemes of We're New Again, Makaya McCraven's reimagining of the same source material — I'm New Here, Gil Scott Heron's final album before his death — the dancefloor pomp of Jamie XX's rendition seems ill-conceived, even in bad taste. And yet, with the vibrant instrumentals backing Scott-Heron's ghostly musings, it gives him a fun energy that he balked at throughout his storied career. Jamie XX famously consulted with Heron via hand-written letters, gaining approval and advice directions to take the recontextualized opus. The end result became the defining album of Jamie XX's career, and a re-defining swan song of one of the 20th centuries most vital voices.