The XX - Coexist

For their sophomore album Coexist, the XX drew on personal experiences for their songwriting, while their music was influenced by the electronic dance scene that occurred when they had been away on tour promoting their Mercury Prize winning debut album 'xx'.

In the years between their debut and Coexist, the XX's sound took on a life of its own, thanks in large part to Drake's hit duet with Rihanna, "Take Care," which sampled Jamie Smith's collaboration with Gil Scott Heron, "We're New Here". That single embodied and popularized the xx's aesthetic to such a degree that on first listen, Coexist can sound like demos for a potential follow-up.

These songs on Coexist lay the trio's R&B roots bare, with an extra emphasis on that last word bare. While second albums are usually where bands add more elements to their sound to keep things interesting, The XX go even darker and sparer than they were on their debut, which was pretty sparse and dark to begin with.

Heavyweight vinyl produced by Young Turks in 2012. Die-cut sleeve. Includes download card.