Now Playing: The XX – ‘Angels’
The XX - Co-Exist
Now Playing – every week, a roundtable of our writers will give their views on one of the recently-released new tracks. It’s as simple as that! If you want to tell us what you think of the song, feel free to leave a comment below.
Track: ‘Angels’ by the xx
Average grade: 5.3
Harry: I’ve never rated the xx much at all, too much hype and not enough talent, but the one thing they did have was a distinct sound. This track has lost it, lost any individuality they once had. It’s dull, laborious and lazy songwriting. The one thing I thought the xx could never lack is originality but, frankly, it could just be any generic softcore indie band. 2/10
Anna: I find this less boring than their previous song material but I’m still not really taken in. I do like the endearing fragility it exudes but that’s pretty much it. 6/10
Hayley: ‘Angels’ sounds like an archetypal xx song: Romy Madley Croft whispering intimately over skeletal guitar and reverberated, meandering bass – pleasant enough. This is neither good nor bad; the xx have a trademark sound that is too assiduous and distinct to ever dismiss or change, but it would have been nice to hear something a little different from them. I keep waiting for some hint of contortion of sound as the song approaches its finish, which is perhaps only recognisable in the percussive accompaniment of agitated snare rolls about a minute in – nothing to get too excited about. Despite lacking in progression, ‘Angels’ still remains a solid first single from the xx’s forthcoming album Coexist. I am interested to see if Jamie Smith’s production introduces that rumoured dancefloor direction on the rest of the record though, because it’s definitely not evident here. 6.5/10
Kenny: Not a group that’s previously made an impact with me and this is pretty lame fare, lacking in emotion despite the attempt at earnestness. 2/10
Tom: I may be missing the point, not only of this track but of the XX, but this sounds like dinner party trip hop with the hop removed. There’s been some online excitement about the brief appearance of a snare drum halfway through. However, even with a full complement of beats, this would be a perfectly pleasant and very unexciting track. Everything But the Girl for the 21st century. 5/10
Richard: Blimey, it just goes to show how quickly a hyped band can become yesterday’s news. I’d already forgotten about The xx. Romy Madley Croft’s serene vocals thankfully remind me what all the fuss was about, though despite her great voice, ‘Angels’ is rather underwhelming, a delicate step back into the arena. Perhaps this is the sound of a band unsure where they stand in the grand scheme of things, even when they stand alone. 7/10
James: I’ve heard people complaining about repetition but why mess with something that works so well? People have tried to recreate their sound but only The xx can produce something so intriguingly empty. Let’s hope the rest of the album is just as effortless. 8/10
Stef: I love the start of this. This band knows how to embed some emotion into their songs. Halfway through they switch it up, and it’s not until the very last part that it returns to the sound that makes it good. I don’t like those heavy handed drums. Also, I think this song, clocking under three minutes, could’ve just picked one sound and rode it home. 6/10
