Jamie xx - All Under One Roof Raving

From the outside in, Jamie xx’s ‘All Under One Roof Raving’ is a love letter to London; its open-all-hours clubs; its busied, litter-strewn streets; its ‘unique’ drainage system; the smells and sights of a special city. From that angle, it’s also a track that borders on comical - it’s one “GET YER EVENIN’ STANDEEERD” away from being a pastiche.

But ‘All Under One Roof Raving’ is about more than one city. It represents the idea that music can build movements, from the underground and beyond. Every spoken word sample Jamie Smith employs (and there are lots of them) carries a meaning. From one reverberated, celebratory “Yes!”, to the de-facto mantra “This is what we love” - everything speaks volumes about the idea that if enough people get enough joy from one sound, it can spark change.

Jungle, hardcore, garage - these movements (some existing, some near defunct) have their place in history. ‘All Under One Roof Raving’ pays respect to the long-gone, but it also paves way for the future. Less a statement, more a reflection of what matters, it’s a special track, arguably the best Smith’s put his name to as a solo artist.