In this instance it appears that the hype surrounding South London band The XX is in fact pretty true. Their alluring timid-pop self titled debut is a fantastic surprise that makes the list alongside this years other top-notch records.
The XX are four 19 year olds, school friends I believe, whose simple, modest pop delicacies range from gentle male-female duets to smokey, atmospheric echoes of beauty. They come across as awfully humble, and although simplistic and shy in parts, it's their frill-absent, basic approach to things that crafts their enchanting love sick urbanised coos.
Single 'Basic Space' is driven by two sets of vocals and a ethereal ticking beat while 'Shelter' is a love-lusting, relationship-questioning ditty of a stripped down nature - easily consumed and easily adored, The XX are teen-beauties who have demonstrated an outlandish sense of maturity for such tender young'uns, successfully honing in on the fact that a devotion to integrity and clarity is sometimes all it takes.
Download The XX - Shelter
