Release Date: September 10th, 2012
Coexist marks the second album for English indie trio The xx. The 11-track follow up to 2009’s debut xx is available to stream on the band’s website this week; there’s even an interactive map for streaming background pleasure. It’s fan likability is definitely based on which elements from 2009’s xx were most favorable. Coexist lassoed the down-tempo, subdued expression of emotion full on this time. Standout elements stick to repetitive atmospheric riffs, soft and sexy vocals and electronic percussion that’s ever too gently sprinkled on top. The excitement of crescendos and intermittent energy provided by parts of their last release don’t make much of an appearance on this one.
“Angels” opens the album with their signature minimalism and Romy Madley Croft’s confessional lyrics. She sings softly like there’s nothing to prove, like the song isn’t meant for anyone other than her lover. The result is a beautifully stripped love song, but also an undeniably easy one. Second track and single “Chained” follows similar suit, with Croft and Oliver Croft reminiscing in duet about a failed relationship. Its deep lo-fi electronic traits compare to James Blake, SBTRKT or even Bloc Party at their absolute lightest. The energy level of this album as one is really lacking, which wouldn’t normally be cause for complaint, except that almost every song regresses to become slower than how it began. This has a significantly painful effect on listenability, causing the album to drag into a state of heavy-eyed drowsiness.
This is certainly what we sign up for when putting them on though; it’s music that is meant for solitude, not socializing. The drowning effects in “Our Song”, a duet with Sim and Croft, waver akin to the ambiance of Future Islands. The minor downsteps in “Swept Away” similarly journey to slow, monotonic plains. “Tides” breaks into more varietal arrangements, which feel fresh and overdue. Coexist hymns generously for a select amount of listeners, among them those with patience or love heavy on the mind and a taste for extremely minimal music. Although we should hope now for a bigger transition to their next album, it should be recognized that this group has the power to creep up on a listener after the 3rd or 4th run though an album, and for that a unique merit is deserved.
The xx – Coexist tracklist:
- “Angels”
- “Chained”
- “Fiction”
- “Try”
- “Reunion”
- “Sunset”
- “Missing”
- “Tides”
- “Unfold”
- “Swept Away”
- “Our Song”
- “Reconsider”
