Some bands take giant leaps between albums. The xx have taken baby steps. You have to assume COEXIST was called that because it can sit alongside their debut. The lack of any progression is dissappointing. If anything it sounds like they've gone backwards.
It's a sparse record but with less instrumentation, comes less melody. Their first album was fresh and distinctive containing memorable, haunting and addictive songs. It's sad to report that COEXIST lacks that. It feels like The xx have used up all their ideas and all they're left with is atmospherics.
Oliver Sim and Romy Madley-Croft's breathy vocals are beginning to get a but tiresome and the endless heartfelt and needy lyrics are starting to make The xx sound like a pastiche of themselves, or worse The flight of The Conchords doing a tribute. It's all getting a bit xx-y!
That probably seems a little unfair, after all if something's not broke why fix it. But with music this spare and slight, if things don't move on it all becomes a little, well, boring.
Thats not to say there aren't some okay tracks. 'Chained' is alright, 'Reunion' is great as the addition of steel drums and thumping beats makes an interesting diversion and the deep house of 'Swept Away'. But if I'm honest I'm clutching at straws. Theres nothing here as good as 'VCR', 'Crystalised' or 'Islands'.
I'm going to have to steal the words of some chap on iTunes: "A great album to have as background music or to fall asleep to". If that's not damning with faint praise I don't know what is.
ANGELS
CHAINED
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