In Waves is the second studio album by English producer Jamie xx, released on 20 September 2024 through Young. It was preceded by the singles "Baddy on the Floor" featuring Honey Dijon and "Treat Each Other Right", and is his first album in nine years, following In Colour (2015). The album also includes collaborations with Jamie xx's xx bandmates Romy and Oliver Sim, as well as Honey Dijon, Kelsey Lu, John Glacier, Panda Bear, Robyn, the Avalanches, and Oona Doherty.[1] An additional collaboration with Erykah Badu features on the deluxe vinyl.[2]
Background
The album was recorded over a period of four years.[2] In a statement, Jamie xx likened his experiences since releasing his previous album to "waves that we have all experienced together and alone", and said that he wanted to "make something fun, joyful and introspective all at once" as "the best moments on a dance floor are usually that" for him.[3]
From 2020 to early 2024, Jamie xx released the standalone singles "Idontknow", "Let's Do It Again", "Kill Dem", and "It's So Good"; the latter was made for a Chanel ad campaign.[4] All of the singles were included on the deluxe vinyl edition of the album, in addition to the new track "F U" featuring Badu.[2]
The first single, "Baddy on the Floor", was released in April 2024, while the second single "Treat Each Other Right" was released alongside the album announcement on 4 June.[6] The third single, "Life", was released on 17 June.[7] The album was promoted with a residency at Venue MOT in London called "The Floor", which was held from 16 to 25 May and was described as a series of ten consecutive parties with surprise guests.[3]
On 28 June, Jamie xx headlined the Woodsies Stage at the 2024 Glastonbury Festival and performed several tracks from In Waves among other songs. Romy, Oliver Sim, and Robyn joined him during the set to perform their collaborations from the album.[8] A show to celebrate the release of the album will be held at the Alexandra Palace in London on 26 September.[2]
In Waves received a score of 84 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on 18 critics' reviews, which the website categorised as "universal acclaim".[9] For Alexis Petridis of The Guardian, "there are noticeably more tracks on In Waves [than on In Colour] that are evidently designed to be heard through big speakers at 3am. [...] The work of a smart, skilled producer that never seems to betray its lengthy and apparently anguished gestation, In Waves hits the target far more often than it misses, and when it does miss, it's not by far."[5] Jessie Dorris of Pitchfork described it as "a well-polished record animated by the ecstatic and easy pleasures of the dancefloor" that "generally plays to [Jamie xx's] strengths".[10]
