Album Review
Xiu Xiu - OH NO
4 StarsIt’s unlikely to win them any new followers, but existing fans won’t be disappointed.
Xiu Xiu frontman Jamie Stewart says he was inspired to write their 12th album, ‘OH NO’, by feelings of isolation and depression he suffered following the termination of a number of his friendships and the cancellation of the band’s tours. So it’s not surprising that a gloomy mood underpins the album. The surreal menace that permeated much of precursor ‘Girl With Basket of Fruit’ is gone, replaced by a pervasive sadness. Stewart’s vocals have rarely sounded bleaker, recalling those on latter-day Bowie and Greg Puciato’s recent solo work. He collaborated with a number of musicians on the album who he says somewhat restored his faith in humanity, meaning it is a succession of duets, all with interestingly chosen collaborators. His vocals interweave with Chelsea Wolfe’s well on ‘One Hundred Years’ and Sharon van Etten’s voice on opener ‘Sad Mezcalita’ has a very beguiling, torchsong quality to it. After all the preceding melancholy, the closing triptych of ‘Knock Out’, lead single ‘A Bottle of Rum’, and Valerie Diaz monologue ‘ANTS’ makes for a comparatively optimistic conclusion to the album. Xiu Xiu have recorded a 12th album that is an interesting listen, but rarely an easy one. It’s unlikely to win them any new followers, but existing fans won’t be disappointed.
Read More
Xiu Xiu get stuck in an animated nightmare in their ‘Jenny GoGo’ video
It’s the latest single to be taken from their new album ‘FORGET’.
12th January 2017, 12:00am
Xiu Xiu announce new album ‘FORGET’
The noise-poppers have also shared first track ‘Wondering’.
17th November 2016, 12:00am
Xiu Xiu perform music from Twin Peaks soundtrack
Jamie Stewart's project performed their own take on the David Lynch soundtrack at Queensland Gallery of Modern Art.
14th July 2015, 12:00am
Xiu Xiu – Angel Guts: Red Classroom
3 Stars
An album that drips with the influence of its environment.
1st February 2014, 1:57pm
With Bob Vylan, St Vincent, girl in red, Lizzy McAlpine and more.