Gil Scott-Heron made one of my favorite albums of 2010 after not having released a studio album for 16 years and doing a stint in jail. The xx made my absolute favorite album in the last 3 years and single-handedly created a new genre with their debut album that has managed to not only receive critical accolades but also achieve commercial success. Regardless of my shared appreciation for both albums, it just so happens they also both share very similar musical aesthetics: minimal instrumentation with a focus on the drum machine and simple, looped melodies. The fact that these two would join forces to make an album makes as much sense as peanut butter and jelly...
...but the story goes further. It just so happens that Gil Scott-Heron's revival is largely due to Richard Russell's (XL label owner) long-time interest in Gil Scott's music. Richard had visited him while he was in jail and interviewed him upon his release. It should be no surprise, then, that Richard would see the inevitable pairing of his musical hero with his label's most recent success, the xx.
This is my most highly anticipated album of the year, even before Kanye and Jay-Z's collaboration. Watch for it February 22nd.
Here's a taste of peanut butter and jelly proportions...
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