The xx 'Coexist'

B

One of my biggest musical fantasies throughout 2010 and 2011 was that we would get some indication of a new xx release. Toward the end of 2011, my prayers were answered when The xx announced a new album slated for the summer of 2012. September 11^th saw the release of sophomore album ‘Coexist’ from The xx and, to my utter bemusement, I didn’t immediately love it.
                I try not to read reviews before I’ve heard a new album because I think that’s counterintuitive. Reading another person’s opinion on something is a quick way to dilute your own opinion. It’s like how people need to cleanse their palette before tasting certain foods one after another. I didn’t want the aftertaste.  However, as I streamed this album (via their totally cool map site project), I couldn’t help but wonder what others had thought of it. It seemed that the general consensus amongst music blogs and magazines was that it was a good release. I saw a lot of 8/10s being thrown around.
                The truth is, first listen, I thought it was a decent release. It was not the worst thing I’d ever heard but it was, by no means, the best.  Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sims’ voices sync perfectly with one another amongst the steady beating of steel drums and deftly split chorus sections. Jamie’s beats are perfectly okay and haven’t lost that quiet, almost nonchalant, sexiness from the first album.
                There is, however, something that we didn’t see too much of on the first album. There is a noticeable influence of House music strewn casually within the tracks that is present yet unassuming. The tracks range from around 3-5 minutes leaving us with a more uniform feeling  of a slower and more measured structure  than on the debut while remaining as sparse as we have heard in the past.
                Overall, the album grows on you. Maybe not after a first or a second listen. But if you’re in the right frame of mind and ingest it without expectation, then you’re in for a real treat. ‘Try’ is perfect; ‘Sunset’ is seamless; and ‘Missing’ is undeniably sexy. The arrangement of the tracks is immaculate and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
                My main qualm with this is that I desperately wish there was more. More anything. We’ve heard Oliver Sim and Romy Madly Croft name Beyonce and other hip hop artists as strong inspirations for their music. While a ‘Run the world’ beat would have been totally out of place and completely jarring, Coexist  would have benefited from more range in composition.
                The album is a good one and I’m glad we’ve finally heard from these guys after a long waiting period. Coexist was released September 11^th and is available on iTunes, Amazon,  and to stream on Spotify.