the xx - Coexist

Of 2009's exciting new acts to make a name for themselves (Passion Pit, Lady GaGa, Music Go Music), the xx were one of the latest to really grab me by the horns. Perhaps their whole understated, delicate sound made them by default one of the calmest breakthroughs, but it really wasn't until 2010 that I bought the album and let Crystallised and its cohorts take hold.

Since then, of course, the band have been stratospheric in their success. After winning the Mercury Prize, Jamie xx has gone on to remix tracks from the likes of Florence + the Machine, Adele and Radiohead, and has produced the brilliant Gil Scott-Heron career finish We're New Here, from which Drake & Rihanna's hit Take Care was taken. Rihanna's also sampled the xx's Intro for her own recent album track Drunk on Love. For the rest of the band it's been business as usual, and the focus has turned to producing the impossible follow-up.

It all begins extremely promisingly with arguably their most beautiful and accomplished track to date, the single 'Angels'. "And everyday I am learning about you/ the things that no one else sees", Romy Madley Croft sings in her gentle, vulnerable way that's just impossible to take as anything other than the endearing, truthful words of someone in love. In 'Chained' the band flex muscles musically and expand a little beyond their minimalist niche, with their duet almost upstaged by post-garage beats and distracting synth waves. The lyrics are standard suffocating love-on-the-rocks fare, but their dancier sound is something to behold. However, this is a rarity; there's a worrying feeling of nostalgia about next track 'Fiction' that just pushes every thought about progress and ingenuity to the sidelines. The lyrics fail to permeate and are full of tired metaphors (seriously, count them: "I wake up alone", "bring on the night", "we'll be torn apart").

It's this attitude of stock romance lyricisms that casts a worryingly impersonal light over the band and their resulting lack of a message; on 'Try' Croft sings of temptation and biding one's time in the most minimally revelatory sense imaginable, albeit over an interesting, quirky melody. The instruments vary a little on 'Reunion', with the inspired introduction of steel drums; matched with blues guitars it's an unusual mix that eventually caves to their token bleak electronic sound, and it's one rare moment the band seem interested in making a song. The lyrics to 'Sunset' are a small glimpse of the band expanding upon their angst - "After all that we had/ We act like we had never met" - but again it's not remotely poetic or idiosyncratic. They allow a little more noise into the shadows of 'Missing', but ends with the inanely melodramatic idea of an ECG monitor registering no heartbeat after singing of the irregularity that a certain heartbreak has caused.

A rattling sound effect and more distinctive drums, matched with a welcome arrival (strings) gives 'Tides' a kick, and is one of the far more memorable tracks. The only outwardly tedious track on display I'd argue, though, is 'Unfold', a song magnanimous in its desire not to be heard. I challenge you to remember anything about it after it ends. Even a track 2 minutes longer is able to eclipse its staying power, and 'Swept Away' is another merciful highlight. Throwing down an, in xx standards, stomper of a beat, the track is their only beyond the 3 and a half minute mark and that shows; they're given room to breathe, and display other possibilities. Instead, they leave us with 'Our Song', a quiet duet with the intention of intimacy (personal pronouns abound) but the glaring glaze of ubiquity.

Consider if you will Coexist the same level of satisfaction as the popcorn that goes with your cinema experience. You get what you expected, and it's all very listenable, but you're not really paying that much attention to it because there's really not that much substance there aside from a couple of nice flavours. Coexist sadly fails to live up to the xx in spectacular fashion, and at times this feels a struggle to listen to. In severe lack of stand-out tracks and in plentiful supply of romantic clichés, the band have ultimately played right into the immature critics' - the criers of "BORING!" - hands.
Rating: 5.5/10
Highlights: Angels, Reunion, Tides, Chained, Swept Away
Avoid: Unfold, Fiction, Missing, Our Song

Artwork Watch: Well if you didn't like the first one, this won't be terribly up your street either.
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