The XX: "XX"

Have you ever had one of those lazy days that your feet barely touch the floor? You just lounge about all day, in a complete daydream, and even though the television may be blaring in front of you as you relax on the couch, you haven’t the foggiest notion of what is on the screen. You spend your day neither here nor there, just lost somewhere in the in between. Those are such great days; I often wish I had more of them. But if you know what I am talking about, you are going to have to listen to the XX eponymous debut album, because it will transport you right into that state of mind. Honestly, I really liked their second single, “Crystalised,” and I got to see them live a few days ago when they opened for Friendly Fires, but when I listened to the album, everything seemed to stop and I found myself faffing on the couch. With a minimalist cover (a white X on a black background), the music mirrors that same minimalist concept that is alluring and daydreaming inducing.

Out of London, these are four nineteen year olds; the band is composed of Romy Madley (co vocals, lead guitar), Baria Qureshi (keyboards, guitar), Oliver Sim (co vocals, bass) and Jamie Smith. Smith produces the beats and controls the MPC – Music Production Center. Basically a small pad with a few buttons, switches, and knobs, that he uses to control samples and produce beats in real time. Just as interesting is the fluidity in vocal duties between Madley and Sim. Their voices are not a perfect match for one another, yet they complement themselves perfectly (think Gahan/Gore or Orzabal/Smith). But the band’s ability to put forward a sole female or male vocalist, not to mention the duet, allows for diversity and a range of melodic styles.

The music is understated, never exploding into an orgiastic fury nor drooping into a hole of complete disparity. And though the music song to song is not genre shifting or bending, each song definitely has its own personality and characteristics. The opening, aptly titled “Intro,” is basically an instrumental, which uses “ahhs” in much the same way one would a violin in an orchestra. “Crystalised” lyrically gives into that post-punk stream of consciousness: “[Sim] You’ve applied the pressure to have me crystalised, and you’ve got the faith that I could bring paradise. [Madley] I’ll forgive and forget, before I’m paralysed; do I have to keep up the pace to keep you satisfied?” The musical arrangements are the most gothy-post-punk track on the album – but with a beat that borders on danceable. “Heart Skipped a Beat” relies heavily on “hand claps” to form the beat. “Shelter” (“Maybe I had said something that was wrong; can I make it better with the lights turned on?”) has the melancholic feel expected from the lyrics: somewhere between regret and remorse, somewhere between movement and stagnation. “Basic Space,” the lead single (“I can let it out, I still let you in…”), has that musical confusion that the ending of the closing vocals capture – the song wants to explode into something danceable, while continuing to hold steadfast to its composure.

Though all the beats are electronically generated, what makes this album work so well is the feeling of being organic. From the minimalist production value to the simplicity in the arrangements, the album flows as if conscious of its own existence. It is not often that an album gives me that feeling… but this one definitely did. I am going to be a bit snarky at this point and say that if this is not your cup of tea, you may need to listen to it again and again… and again. Or better yet, throw it on your iTunes, crank up those speakers as loud as they can go, sit back on the couch, and start daydreaming. And when the album is done, and you are back from wherever your mind was wandering, it may surprise you that this album is the soundtrack of our daydreams.



Track Listing:
1. Intro
2. VCR
3. Crystalised
4. Islands
5. Heart Skipped a Beat
6. Fantasy
7. Shelter
8. Basic Square
9. Infinity
10. Night Time
11. Stars
12 Hot Like Fire – iTunes bonus track

Keep up with the XX at their homepage and MySpace.

Here is their video for “Basic Space” from the youngturksrecords YouTube Channel.