Jamie xx, Dafodil | Song Review 🎵

“Dafodil” is a surefire winner from Grammy-nominated DJ/producer Jamie xx. He’s assisted by Kelsey Lu, John Glacier, and Panda Bear.

“Lovely sweetness that filled the air / Came from a daffodil in your hair / I placed it there.” Grammy-nominated DJ/producer Jamie xx (James Smith) is the man when it comes to producing music. Ahead of his second studio album, In Waves, Smith released the ear-catching single, “Dafodil”.  He gets help from three artists: Kelsey Lu, John Glacier, and Panda Bear. Also, he collaborated with Rodaidh McDonald on the production.  The results are stellar.

“It all started one summer night in London.” Word. “Dafodil” is enigmatic from the onset. After hearing “Dafodils,” it surprised me and caught me off guard.  Music can be even more magical when it surprises you and “Dafodils” is a prime example.  The intro sets the tone for a distinct, experimental track.  “Dafodil” is built on spoken word, sang vocals, and makes unique use of samples. Specifically, it samples “Touching You” by Astrud Gilberto and “I Just Make Believe (I’m Touching You)” by J.J. Barnes.  The assisting musicians nail their respective parts, contributing to this musical tour de force.  A great example of ‘dream work makes the team work,’ part of the charm of “Dafodil” is the fact that there is no star – everyone does their fair share.  Besides the samples, the instrumental accompaniment is tasteful.  With a distinct form, the bridge distinguishes itself from everything else, keeping the song engaging (“Lost just thinking of someone / Think they met at a party / There’s someone for everyone…”). “Dafodil” is a surefire winner from Jamie xx.

Jamie xx // In Waves // Young // 9.20.24

Jamie xx, Dafodil [📷: Brent Faulkner/The Musical Hype; Young; Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Królestwo Nauki, OpenClipart-Vectors, Pete Linforth, Tumisu from Pixabay]