Album: The xx, Coexist (Young Turks/XL)
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.If the xx’s second album lacks, through necessity, the surprise value of the first, then it doesn’t disappoint in any other way.
The press blurb has claimed that this is the album in which they draw upon club culture, but if they do, it’s in the most understated way, the subtle UK-garage beat beneath “Sunset” being one of the few clear instances. Its melodies sketched out with twostring intervals, using the guitar almost like a harp, the xx’s sound never succumbs to over-elaboration: even the kettle drums on “Reunion” aren’t allowed to overshadow the song or outstay their welcome.
If anything, rather than clubland, Coexist owes a debt to comedown/ chillout culture, but even that’s a stretch, given the turbulence of their emotional palette. In its unfailingly minimalist way, Coexist sees the Wandsworth trio breathing new life into the concept of the duet. Rather than saccharine declarations of mutual adoration, joint frontpersons Romy Madley Croft and Jamie Smith deliver inner monologues depicting the same situation from two different perspectives, Peep Show-like.
The world adored the xx’s Mercury Prize-winning debut album xx. Coexist is, if anything, an even finer piece of work.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments