I’ll just get this out of the way, yes, all the members of The xx are a mere twenty years of age, and yes, even being that young they’ve released one of 2009’s most mature and confident sounding albums in their newest effort xx. The xx are doing minimal better than anyone else this year, as they utilize the notes they don’t play as much as the ones they do as good as anyone this side of Spoon.

Restraint is the name of the game here, again making the band’s youth all the more impressive. xx is careful, tense, and overtly sexual, and it plays these cards masterfully. “Basic Space” is perhaps the best song here, and if it’s not then it’s at least the best example of why the album succeeds so well. The song is for the most part very subdued and composed. The rhythm is tight and the song never goes too far off the rails even during the choruses, so when Romy Madley Croft comes in strong at the two and a half minute mark, the effect is gripping.

“Basic Space” also highlights another big strength: the interplay between Croft and bassist Oliver Sim. The two spend most of the album going back and forth at one another, Croft attacking and responding with her breathy coo and Sims doing the same with either his voice or bass. The chemistry between these two opposing forces is perhaps the best thing about the album and the band. The whole album sounds like two members of a sexual relationship exchanging words as two people in such a relationship might, if said relationship were set to understated indie rock. xx feels like a rubber band that keeps getting stretched longer and longer for 38 minutes, and the rubber band in this metaphor is sexual tension. I never thought an album could make me wonder if it’s possible for musical compositions to be too tense. Hell, even the mostly instrumental (and entirely wordless) opener is sensual.

The trappings of “Basic Space” are all over the rest of the album and they are largely responsible for the greatness of “Crystalised,” “Islands,” “Infinity,” and “Night Time,” just to name a few. The consistency of xx is notable, with not a track wasted, not even mid-album palette cleanser “Fantasy” which stands apart because of its dreamy quality and loose formlessness. Everything else here is a similarly superb showcase of nuance and subtlety, but rest assured, each song has it’s own unique spin that keeps the record from becoming repetitive or boring.

There is one issue that people could take with the album that could hinder its penetration. It’s a hell of a grower and it takes time to fall in love with. I was smitten before I really even realized it, there was no big moment when I realized this was an amazing record, it just kind of snuck into my subconscious and planted itself there, every bass note, and piano line. Make it to this stage though and one of the album’s best qualities emerges, it’s got legs. xx is such a slow burn that I’ve been able to listen to it repeatedly, each time I feel like I hear something new, and I’m far from growing tired of it. Have patience and xx will reveal itself and pay off big dividends, give up early, and you’re missing out on 2009’s best debut album so far.

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Catch The xx Tuesday, December 4, at The Bottom Lounge. Tickets are available right now at Ticketweb.com for only $15!
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