The XX

Coexist (Remote Control)

Never has a traditional set up of drums, bass, keys, guitars and vocals been so hauntingly memorable. Their distinct style of stripped down beats and unpretentious melodic ballads has made the xx one of the most hyped bands of their era. For their second album, the trio manages to avoid the sophomore slump with an eloquently produced selection of tracks that don’t stray far from their signature style; heavily reverberated guitars with enough dashes of haunting synth washes to give one chills. This minimalistic touch on every part of their work just proves that virtuosity does not necessarily mean heavy embellishment.

Stand out songs include “Angels” and “Chained.” Lyrically, “Chained” is a confessional diary of two lovers reflecting on the decline and end of a powerfully intimate relationship. The song starts off with the husky vocals of Oliver Sim, responding is Romy Madley-Croft’s tantalizing, breathy, voice, desperately, maybe even hopelessly, lamenting over a lost love connection. It sounds almost careless in the way the melodies meander, but it retains beauty and meaning. Oliver Sim sounds as if he is singing in his sleep. If their music were a water park, his voice would be the lazy river attraction for all the tag-along parents. Romy does not fail to disappoint either, her soft, hushed vocals deliver a sensual intimacy that adds depth to their simply put lyrics. But the album highlight is  “Sunset”, a more mature single showcasing the hushed emotional outpour exchanged between the two vocalists over stripped-back beats reminiscent of Timbaland: all courtesy of the band’s now in demand remixer/producer Jamie xx, topped with understated guitar riffs and rounded out by a sweet bass solo.

The xx’s consistent use of negative space in Coexist draw a path for prominent echoing bass rumblings to generate a nocturnal seductive mood ideal for the xx’s sensually alluring lyrical-themed ballads, a defining aspect of contemporary R&B and soul. This hybrid of genres is what makes the xx so universally enticing. Unafraid to use their influences as their inspiration to confidently explore different sounds, the xx instead have spawned a sound of their own—and minimalistic indie pop has never sounded better.

[rating: 4.5/5]

Stephanie Wong