The xx

Leeds Academy

21/09/2009

The Autumn weather is starting to creep in and with all those atmospheric rainy days upon us, the airwaves are shifting from Ibiza-friendly anthems to something a little more subdued.  Turning leaves and blustery gales seem to be demanding School Of Seven Bells‘ lush soundscapes along with new releases from The Temper Trap and The Big Pink.  Post-rain shower, The xx are the perfect band for us to see this chilly evening. They have a similarly enveloping sound, with individual notes dripping through clearly like water from soaked leaves. Yet all the instruments rarely assault us at once, and in this lies the beauty of their music. With understated charm it holds us in a foggy daydream; interchanging vocals from Romy Croft and Oliver Sim complimenting the instrumental backing, rather than overpowering it.  However with the new season, the students have returned to Leeds and they’re determined to be drunk every night. One of them is standing in front of us during The xx’s set, and as audiences can make or break gigs, tonight our fellow music fans are ruining The xx for us, with chattering louder than the music and comments like “is that La Roux singing?” To the girl in front of us at the gig: we wish you’d keep your voice down and refrain from whooping and clapping like a seal after each song. To The xx: pardon the pun but we can’t help ourselves, you are xxcellent. 

Justine Trickett