Romy - "Lifetime"

Romy Madley Croft of the xx has shared "Lifetime," her debut solo single.

"Less is more" may have been a phrased coined by Bauhaus visionary Ludwig Mies van der Rohe when talking about the German art movement, but it is also supremely fitting when describing the music of the xx. It's hard to think of an album in recent memory that accomplished so much while remaining so minimal, but the debut from the xx did just that. It's hard to imagine a song like Lorde's "Royals" existing had the xx not paved the way with their hollow yet stunning debut. Now, on her first solo venture, Romy Croft ditches the minimal components of her band's illustrious debut in favor of an exuberant, electronic jam that is full of energy. This buzzing track doesn't burst at the seams in the same manner as her bandmate Jamie's recent output, but still revels in its buoyant and lush textures. The xx's debut was stark and supremely upheld by the band's drab black and white tones, but here, Romy is relishing in the vibrant electric pulse that permeates the song. "This is a high I can get from nobody else", she sings to open the track and I, for one, agree. This is the work and excitement that could come from no one else.