SINGLE: THE XX - CRYSTALISED / HOT LIKE FIRE 7"

This song has been floating around for some time now but I thought that seeing as it was released last Monday it gave me a good excuse to write about an incredible new band. The xx hail from south west London, The Elliot School to be precise - the same mysterious school that also gave the world Burial, Four Tet and Hot Chip. This gives you a vague start on what they sound like. This band operate in the night time, their sound is mysterious, delicate, spellbinding. And this, their debut single is a perfect snapshot of the heady music they're creating.

Opening with a haunting howl sound, the two guitars follow, entwining with one another much like the hushed vocals and the guy and girl that sing them. Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim - friend since they were 2 - claim to have learnt to talk together, which might explain why their voices wrap so perfectly together. The song itself feels like something only soulmates could sing to each other, with lyrics so intimate it almost feels rude to listen. Romy sings "I'll forgive and forget, before I'm paralysed, do I have to keep up the pace, to keep you satisified?" and Oliver sings back "Don't think that I'm pushing you away, when you're the one that I've kept closest" It's the most breathtaking song I've heard for some time, and they do it so subtly, the soft beats and simple bass echoing round your head. The b-side 'Hot Like Fire' is a cover of R&B artist Aaliyah and is similarly smooth, with a particularly sensual vibe. But 'Crystalised' is the song that'll stick with you, ending flawlessly with both voices singing "go slow" as the music does so until it stops. Everyone's saying it but it's true: this is music for the night - walking home through a city under the stars. This is miraculous.

MP3: The xx - Crystalised (zshare)
(Buy whilst you still can!) It's already sold out from Young Turks

Check out the video, directed by Alex Flick and Masato Riesser. It's perfect.