Friday, 28 August 2009

The XX - 'XX'



London four piece The XX released their debuting offering ('XX') on Young Turks last week, a record that has been hotly anticipated, which is quite a feat for a band whose members only recently strolled over the puberty finish line. The album is a louche, folky, minimal package frosted with some thoughtful vocals and a touch of rnb and dubstep, apparently all produced in the back of their record company's offices. It's not an album to dance to but it's good quality and refreshingly original, carrying the legacy of some of the musicians the band count as inspiration (Cocteau Twins, Pixies). I love the raw, untreated vocals by Oliver Sim and Romy Madley-Croft which make them sound older than their years and in places just a little 'continental' (see 'VCR'). 'Shelter' is particularly affecting, 'Islands' has a clever, catchy, innocently emotive chorus and 'Infinity' is a melancholy slice of darkness with a touch of Chris Isaak's Wicked Game electric guitar to it (this is a good thing). All in all something of a quietly confident triumph.

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