The XX – Coexist (2012)

I was really excited about The XX when they had just released their first album in 2009. Their minimalist, echoey sounds were super cool and so was the album cover with just a white X on black background. Fairly soon after the release of the debut album I learned that The XX was coming to Helsinki to play at the Flow festival. First I thought the band wouldn't really fit into a festival, because it was so intimate and quiet that I didn't think they could manage to create similar mood at a huge festival. Turns out I was wrong. The gig was incredible and the mood was even further improved by dramatic clouds and starry sky. This is why I had high hopes for the band's second album. I should've known that it was difficult to repeat something so unique and fair enough, the second album doesn't manage to be as intimate as the first album.



The mood on Coexist is similar to the debut album, but the songs have slightly more electronic sounds, which makes the result a bit colder and more artificial. I don't want to say only negative things about this album however, because had this been the first album, I would've probably still been quite impressed. The problem is more that it's very similar to the debut album, but lacks the greatest moments and warm intimacy that the first album was able to provide.

The album cover is once again, amazing. The X in the white album cover is a hole through which you can see the oily colours of the leaflet in the shape of an X. This is a beautiful object that you could never insert into a jewel case. I really like it when bands or artists manage to release an album that is such a beautiful object that you really want to hold it rather than just listen to the songs electronically.

The album starts with a strong song Angels, which has loads of echoey guitars and some electronic drums. The vocals are laconic, yet still quite airy because of all the echo. The second song Chained reminds me of trip hop bands of the 90's, although, the beats are more modern with some interesting rhythms. Fiction is probably closest song to the first album with very minimal sounds where there is almost always just one instrument playing at a time. Try has almost annoying synth sounds in the beginning, but then it switches into airy dream pop. Reunion has some steel drums. I can't really say I've ever really liked steel drums. Also the chorus is too massive with buzzing bass on the background, which I don't particularly like. Therefore, this is probably my least favourite track on the album. Sunset has annoyingly pounding electronic drum on the background. The song itself is quite good, but I would like to get rid of the drum beat. Missing is an eerie and almost scary song with very trip-hop style vocals. When the song grows after a minute and a half it improves significantly with some post-rock style chiming guitars. Tides has some industrial style sounds which makes the beats sound like a factory. The guitar sounds are a bit muffled, which doesn't give the nice echoey warmth, I'm looking for in XX songs. Unfold has excellent echoey sounds, but as a song it's not that interesting. It doesn't really go anywhere. Swept Away shows some of the best vocals on any XX track. The vocals sound more airy than anywhere else and I even like the pounding bass that gives rhythm for this song because it has that real bass sound. Even the slightly technoesque beat is fine considering the rest of the sounds. The album ends with whispering song Our Song that rolls on with buzzing electronic sounds.

I haven't really watched XX videos before. At least I think I haven't. They seem to be just as simple and beautiful as their songs. The music video for Angels just shows slight waves on shallow water where the same oily colours of the album cover keep changing patterns. Together with the music, this is a very hypnotic experience.

I really liked The XX back in the day but they were very much tied to their time and now, only less than 10 years after, I already feel like these sounds have expired a bit. Although, I'm quite sure there will definitely be a time when we look back to these songs and celebrate them as retro.

Listen to the album on Spotify.