Review Summary: An excellent, subtly brilliant album.
The xx aren't a typical band, that's pretty certain. A quartet of two males and two females (one of each taking turns in vocals), these aren't your sterotypical young people. They cite their influences as everything from Mariah Carey to The Cure. This album was truly a hidden gem. It's not an album you pick up and expect to be great. It's so much more different to that.
With two completely opposing vocalists and a rather quiet nature, this album could practically be stamped "indie". Everything about the album is just so different to all the other music in the charts right now. The album is so subtle, with little guitar and percussion at all, and at most times a rather quiet or unnoticeable bass. This album uses that to it's advantage though, making use of the few instruments and instead using the simple vocals to prevail above all. This is the quintessential "less is more" album, with very little going on, but making such a deep and complex sound.
"Crystalised" is one of the of the definite highlights, as it provides a simple guitar riff which is only used at the chorus. It, though being slightly louder than the other tracks on the album, still manages to stay somewhat quiet, with background sound effects taking full advantage of the mood. Ironically enough, "Intro" is by far the most well known track off the album, with it clocking in at a little over two minutes, this simple musical marvel opened the album by demonstrating just what The xx are capable of. They don't rely on complex, long and overproduced songs. Their songs are an experience, albeit very short, that manages to incorporate a lot into very little.
I was slightly ambivalent about the vocals on the album. Their harmonies were done well and their slow-paced singing was good. At times, like on "Fantasy", it was almost mumbling. They don't take pride in their vocals, and their rather reticent singing, which in a way, made the album, though I felt more could've come from the vocals.
Coming second in NME's album of the year poll, this is definitely an atmospheric album with a rather unusual twist. It's not pop or rock, it's somewhere in the middle. It managed to take something so simple and brilliant and make it mainstream. The xx may not be a band you'll immediately like, though they will certainly make an impression.
