Romy proves there's nothing you can't dance through on Mid Air

Widely recognized for her role as a guitarist/singer/songwriter in The xx, Romy Madley Croft creates a record that celebrates the community she holds close. Her self-described “emotional music to dance to” sports sleek beats and gossamer vocals that possess an aura of absolute euphoria.

The entire album radiates an ecstatic light, one that doesn’t dim even as Croft confronts complex feelings like on “Twice.” This unabashed honesty lends a glow to the record that allows it to shine even brighter amidst the heartbreak and confusion we all face. Instead of manufacturing some blissed-out escapism, she finds ecstasy in her own experience, whether it’s the anxious anticipation of “She’s On My Mind,” or the starry-eyed opener, “Loveher,” she makes the entire world seem exciting.

All 34 minutes of Mid Air feel like that moment during a night out when all of your surroundings become background noise – you’re not worried about school, about work, or if that person likes you back. Croft encourages you to check all of those earthly doubts and desires at the door and slip into the halcyon heaven she spins where you’re simply untouchable.

Still, for all of the ebullient electronic elements, what makes this record so refreshing is her vulnerability. As she seamlessly transitions from the title track into “Enjoy Your Life,” Romy repeats “My mother told me enjoy your life” – a mantra that appears throughout the record. Croft makes it clear that looking for joy is a conscious choice. It’s not always easy, and as she details the nerves that come with watching the news or the urge to run away from her problems, it’s obvious that it takes a lot of courage to continuously search for the silver lining. She honors the complexity of emotions and the confusion of trying to figure out who you are with her buoyant club-core.

While it’s easy to oversimplify electronic music, to write songs that are devoid of substance and just sound pretty, Romy isn’t out to make another earworm; she wants to study the nuances of the human experience. Mid Air doesn’t close its eyes to the pain of everyday life. It recognizes the struggle, it shoulders the weight that comes with existing some days. It also revels in nights that feel perfect, the places where we feel safe, and all of the people we get to dance with.