Gil Scott-Heron, Jamie xx – We're New Here

We're New Here is a powerful and inspired collaboration that brings Gil Scott-Heron’s voice into a new sonic era. Jamie xx’s deft production breathes new energy into the raw and introspective spoken-word pieces, layering Scott-Heron’s vocals with fractured beats, ambient textures, and UK bass influences. The result is not merely a remix album but a conversation between generations—one that preserves the emotional gravity of Scott-Heron’s words while transforming their musical surroundings.

This project succeeds because Jamie xx approaches Scott-Heron’s material with a blend of reverence and innovation. The sparse arrangements on tracks like "I'll Take Care of U" and "NY Is Killing Me" create space for Scott-Heron's voice to resonate, while other moments push boldly into club-ready terrain. Critics praised the album for both its sonic imagination and its ability to honor the source without diluting its potency. It stands as a unique cultural bridge, making Scott-Heron’s themes of struggle, identity, and resilience feel startlingly present.

Reviews

"Jamie xx coaxes fresh narratives from the source material, preserving the power of his source material while making it more relevant." – NME

"Jamie xx's finicky, hard-charging production trumps Scott-Heron's voice, overpowering it with ideas, if not focus." – Pitchfork

"A mercurial collaboration full of nods to other club styles and eras, successfully presenting Scott-Heron's music in the present tense." – AllMusic

"The album is an improvement over the bummed-out original, with patience and breadth and almost zero pretension." – The New York Times

"His pained, bluesy musings are as universally human as they are perennially pertinent." – The A.V. Club