The XX mesmerised with their quietly euphoric debut album XX. Featuring gorgeous pieces of heady pop, this was an album that had undeniable potential to redefine the genre and take it in a new direction; it still does. XX left fans and critics waiting in intense anticipation (the nails in the front of the couch kind) and waves of excitement echoed throughout social networks when Coexist was announced. I won't lie, I might have prayed a little bit for this to be incredible.
Some will be left full and satisfied after their first play, others will be left feeling a bit confused as to why there's nothing new here. The likes of 'Angels' and 'Fiction' are strong moments for the band, although they could have slipped comfortably into XX without sticking out from the crowd. They're lovely songs though, particularly the former which has some affective vocals from Romy. The tempo remains mid to low, however when it rises up to mid with the stunning 'Sunset', and 'Swept Away' it's almost like a rave when put in contrast to the more haunting songs like 'Missing'.
Coexist is more of the same from the band, but since they essentially created their own unique brand of pop who can blame them for not straying from the path. The problem with the album is that it doesn't define itself quite as distinctly as its predecessor. For example, when I first heard 'Islands' and 'Heart Skipped a Beat' I felt some elation. There aren't really any 'big' moments like those on Coexist. That said, pretty much every song is pleasant and for the entire run time the atmosphere it creates is nothing short of divine. Glass of red at the ready.
3/5
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