The first rule of Music Consumption states, “Always beware of the over-blogged album.”*It’s no secret that in the past few years Vampire Weekend’s self-titled debut and Animal Collective’s Merriweather Post Pavillion have sent every computer-literate music geek on the planet into a stupor.
With this recent history lesson in mind, I approached XX – an album that has gained near-universal acclaim on the web - with utmost caution.
The biggest surprise initially is how limited the instrumentation on show is. Suitably named album-opener Intro starts with heartbeat-like drums and an intricately-picked guitar line, but quickly thumps its way into a twisting groove that wouldn’t be out of place in a Bond soundtrack.
Following tracks like xylophone-friendly VCR and Crystalised are both structured around very simple riffs and, in both instances, allow the vocals to carry the listener. Rather than being detrimental, the sparse production employed within XX allows for the lyrics to shine to the fore; joint singers Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim’s voices exploit the sonic space and drive the tracks with their haunting boy-girl melodies.
It is standout track Heart Skipped a Beat which best exploits the implementation of dual vocalists, however. The refrain “sometimes I still need you” echoes contemplatively from both sides of a fictional relationship in crisis to near-heartbreaking effect.
Musically, The xx’s reference points initially seem to be Young Marble Giants, The Raincoats and other groups on the more minimalistic side of post-punk. However, behind the wiry basslines and the processed beats is a strong pop sensibility, suggesting that their sound is also indebted to contemporary R&B.
XX is like nothing else being produced at the moment.
That’d explain all the hype…
Greg.
n.b. XX is out now on Young Turks.
*The second rule of Music Consumption is, “You do not talk about Fight Club.”
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