Mid Air

Romy Madley Croft’s debut solo album Mid Air arrives as a captivating love letter to the dancefloors of her youth. Known as the ethereal voice behind The xx, Croft steps out on her own, shedding the moody indie vibe of her band to embrace a bold, dance-pop sound that pulses with both emotional depth and an infectious energy. Working with key collaborators Fred Again and Stuart Price, Croft has crafted a collection of tracks that shimmer with the warmth and longing of queer club culture, while reflecting on the complex emotions of love, loss, and self-identity.

From the very first beat, Mid Air takes flight with an airy, four-on-the-floor pulse that makes no secret of its dance influences. Croft has always been drawn to music that both lifts the spirit and tugs at the heart, and here, she strikes a perfect balance between euphoria and melancholy. The album’s sonic landscape conjures comparisons to Everything but the Girl’s Walking Wounded and the early 00s trance-pop era, with sweeping, melodic hooks set to dancefloor rhythms.

The standout tracks here are undeniable, with the infectious “Strong” — a Grammy-nominated piece that pairs Croft’s wistful vocals with Fred Again’s deft production — taking centre stage. The track carries a sense of bittersweet empowerment, blending nostalgia with the promise of liberation. The album’s other singles, “Enjoy Your Life” and “Loveher”, continue this theme, drawing on samples of Beverly Glenn-Copeland to add an ethereal texture that feels uniquely queer and deeply personal.

The storytelling in Mid Air is where Croft truly shines. Lyrically, it’s a diary of her life and relationships, particularly her journey through grief and mental health. But it’s not all sadness. In tracks like “She’s On My Mind” (which features a breezy, Euro-disco flair), Croft captures the lightness and joy of love, even when tinged with longing. There’s an undeniable optimism that pulses beneath the melancholic surface, a feeling that resonates deeply for anyone who’s ever sought solace in a club or a song.

Stylistically, Mid Air feels refreshingly free, drawing influences from the likes of Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa’s One Kiss, as well as Tiësto’s iconic remix of “Silence”. The album is undeniably forward-facing while embracing a nostalgic love for the dance-pop sounds of the early 2000s. For Croft, it’s about more than just the beats — it’s about a sense of belonging and acceptance found in the pulsating rhythms of queer spaces.

Mid Air is a triumph not only because of its infectious hooks and shimmering production but because it reflects a deep personal narrative, beautifully rendered in sound. Croft’s voice, ever haunting and evocative, remains the anchor that binds this album together. In Mid Air, she’s given us something that feels both intimate and universal — a journey through love, loss, and the beats that keep us alive.

With an album like this, Romy has not only carved out a new sonic identity for herself but also offered a gift to listeners searching for catharsis on the dancefloor.