In Colour

Released on 29 May 2015, In Colour marked the dazzling debut of Jamie XX as a solo artist, carving a space that felt both deeply personal and universally resonant. Composed over five years during Jamie’s tenure with indie pop band the XX, the album weaves influences from UK garage, house, and rave into a kaleidoscopic tapestry of sound. Featuring collaborations with XX bandmates Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim, as well as Young Thug and Popcaan, the record balances introspective ballads and euphoric anthems with masterful precision.

The singles—such as the soaring Loud Places and the jubilant I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)—showcase Jamie’s ability to merge nostalgia with innovation. Tracks like Gosh and Seesaw delve into UK club culture, layering vocal samples and atmospheric textures that speak to his reverence for the dancefloor. Pitchfork praised the album as a “dazzling culmination” of his career to that point, describing it as “a glittering ball that reflects spinning fragments of feeling back at us.”

Critics largely hailed In Colour as a triumph, with a Metascore of 87 indicating near-universal acclaim. Q magazine called it “rich, complex, and dazzlingly fluid,” while NME highlighted the album’s perfectionist craftsmanship, dubbing it “a collection of perfect choices.” Even the more subdued reviews acknowledged Jamie XX’s ambition and his talent for crafting emotionally engaging tracks that transcend traditional genre boundaries.

Accolades followed swiftly. In Colour was nominated for the 2015 Mercury Prize, the 2016 Brit Award for British Album of the Year, and a Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Album. It also earned a gold certification from the Independent Music Companies Association, reflecting its significant impact across Europe.

Looking back, In Colour stands as one of the defining albums of the 2010s. In 2019, Pitchfork ranked it 25th on its “200 Best Albums of the 2010s,” celebrating its ability to blend a “reverence for the past” with a fresh, forward-thinking energy. Decade-end lists from NME, Consequence of Sound, and Rolling Stone further solidified its place in modern music history.
With its blend of heartfelt melodies and floor-filling rhythms, In Colour remains a vivid and timeless exploration of Jamie XX’s artistic vision—a record that captures both the isolation and community of nightlife, refracted through his unique sonic lens.