Concertwire.com

The xx produced one of 2009’s most unique and widely heralded debut recordings, and created one of the most unlikely success stories of the year. Sporting sparse, hypnotic grooves and insanely catchy melodies centered around the yin/yang vocals of Oliver Sim and Romy Madley Croft, the xx plunge fearlessly into the waters of relationships and sexual obsession. Musically, they forge a completely unique sound informed by minimalist electronica, a love of contemporary R&B singers like Rhianna and Beyonce, and the influence of classic New Wave bands like the Cure and Young Marble Giants. The results are stunning, making “Crystalized” surely only the first of a string of hit singles from a debut disc that has landed at the top of nearly everyone’s “Best of 2009” list, from Pitchfork to Mojo to Rolling Stone and beyond.