X-Press 2 drop the album Thee

"Thee" is the vital duo's fifth LP release and the first on the label they signed to earlier this year. Following recent remixes for Gabriels and David Holmes, they have already dropped two singles from the album and unveiled another nine fresh cuts that continue their creative purple patch. It comes after years of defining the sound of the underground with a mix of powerhouse club tracks and catchy songs, most famously their Ivor Novello Award-winning "Lazy feat David Byrne." Whether crafting for the club, the radio, the catwalk, or for brands, Rocky & Diesel continues to showcase the pioneering spirit that has been with them since the early 90s. "Thee" is beefy, fad-free house music stripped back but full of flavor, emotional nuance, and well-used vocal fragments.

We’re so excited to be releasing "Thee" with Acid Jazz. It’s been a long time coming, and some of the tracks have been with us for around ten years now. So it’s fantastic to finally get them finished and pulled together with a bunch of new tunes to form an entirely new album.
Rocky & Diesel on this latest musical chapter

The excellent "Moov" kicks off this comprehensive sonic statement with a deep, pared-back house rhythm underpinned by signature fat bass. Deft vocal coos, subtle strings, and distant FX bring the detail that keeps you locked, while the new single "Zeven" plays with a funky disco loop that teases throughout. It never resolves and will ensure natural dance floor rapture. "Phasing You Out" then offers sweaty and steamy basement grooves with a tender vocal over powerful dusty drums.

The second single, "Muse," is a more introverted and heartbroken sound, and "Can I See The Love" picks things up with supersized drums and smoke-filled dance floor intensity. "The Rain" veers into techno with twisted acid lines spraying about amongst church-like chords and dense percussion. After the stomping tribal energy of the first single, "You Know (Everybody)," comes the zoned-out, post-rush house of "Reach For Me" and more elastic rhythms of "Cope." "Bloom" has freewheeling melodies that allow the floor to cut loose, and "Werq" layers up undulating synths and earworm leads into an expressive and storytelling house for the back room.

"Thee" proves that X-Press 2 once again shuns the legacy act status and continues innovating at the electronic underground's sharp end.

X-Press 2 - Thee
Release Date 13th October 2023
Label Acid Jazz

Tracklist
01. Moov
02. Zeven
03. Phasing You Out feat. Kele Okereke
04. Muse
05. Can I See The Love
06. The Rain feat. Sailor & I
07. You Know (Everybody)
08. Reach For Me
09. Cope
10. Bloom
11. Werq