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London trio The XX are set to release their second album, Coexist, on September 11 and the LP is already receiving mixed reviews due to its stylistically similar feel to their initial offering, xx.
A full week ahead of its release, the band has teamed up with Internet Explorer to give fans a preview of the album. Listeners can track the shared network of Coexist and are encouraged to increase its worldwide exposure.
The band’s first record, xx, was released in 2009 and met with a brilliant reception, leading the trio’s sound to feature heavily on many television shows and was powerfully used in Karl Lagerfeld’s A/W fashion show, 2011.
Their newest release holds many of the same melancholy element of the original and tracks ‘Angels’ and ‘Unfold’ have a distinctly haunting tone to them. Their stripped down and wandering vocals produce a profound sound and The XX seem to have developed their angle more fully within this new release.
Much to the dislike of some critics, the sound of Coexist undeniably runs parallel to that of xx. However, it is clear that rather than produce tracks which could easily have interspersed with their initial album, the trio have exploited the most haunting and moving elements in order to cement their trademark effect.
Those who found the original album slightly repetitive and the tracks hard to separate would be best to avoid their newest offering at all costs; the echoing percussions and drawling vocals creates a feel that this is a record that was made with all the indulgent desires of the artists, rather than to gain wide-spread acclaim.
‘Swept Away’ and ‘Chains’ are stand out tracks and have a strong beat, highlighting the band’s club music influence to full effect.
The last track, ‘Our Song’ sees Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim singing in unison which adds another dimension to the lyrics, ‘I want to mend your heart and there is no one else/ I know all the words to take you apart.’
You are left feeling that you have just trespassed into a uniquely private moment and the result is moving.
Find the full album stream at: coexist.thexx.info