If you visit the official site for the up and coming British band The xx, you will find yourself in for a bit of a treat.

Much like the band itself, the site is a rather unique expression of creativity. Glowing brilliantly on a black screen plays the videos for the band’s singles, compressed into the shape of, aptly enough, an X. And at the rate these Londoners are making a name for themselves, it’s pretty likely that you’ve already visited this inspired digital playground.

Comprised of singer Romy Madley Croft, bassist Oliver Sim, and additional vocalist and instrument extraordinaire Jamie Smith, The xx, who chose the name for their trio based solely on the look of the letter - Croft has said she finds x’s to be very “aesthetically pleasing” - first got together after finding common ground studying music in secondary school (the United Kingdom equivalent of high school).

A few short years later - all the members of the band are just 20 - the band, and the music from their debut album, the eponymous xx, have been making waves. In the month of March alone, the trio have been featured on two shows known for both their steamy drama and keen music sensibilities, “Gossip Girl” and “Grey’s Anatomy.”

And “steamy” is just one adjective that can be used to describe the sound of The xx. On tracks like the gothic-tinged “Crystalised” , the howling and whirling instrumentals of the band’s first single perfectly complement Croft’s dulcet tones, which work effortlessly with the sexy drawl that comprises Smith’s vocal contribution.

Proving that they aren’t just a perfectly manufactured indie package, The xx prove that they have songwriting chops to boot. Impressively, the lyrics are just as seductive as the vocals that deliver them. The first verse of “Crystalised” features the frank lyrics, “I’ll forgive and forget before I’m paralyzed/Do I have to keep up the pace to keep you satisfied?”

This mastery continues on tracks like “Islands,” a more up-tempo number saturated in airy and whimsical synth beats. Croft and Smith share vocal duties yet again as they pledge their faithfulness on this gem, cooing to one another, “I am yours now/So now I don’t ever have to leave/I’ve been found out/So now I’ll never explore.”

The same could be said for the over 30, 00 fans who flock to the band’s MySpace page.

Perhaps the majority of the appeal with this young British trio is their undeniable simplicity. Their beats are uncomplicated, their voices are unaffected and un-digitalized, and most importantly, their music is simply pure. It goes without saying then that the remainder of The xx’s appeal is that they’re undeniably, refreshingly…good.

It was announced recently that The xx will be performing at one of the most popular music festivals in the United States, Tennessee’s Bonnaroo Festival. The xx have a personal, intimate feel that make this announcement a tad frightening, as if your own little secret is being told to the masses, but the thrill of this particular secret getting out is overridingly exhilarating. 

A self-proclaimed music junkie, Faithlynn Morris has found herself in a bit of a British craze. What this means is lots of James Morrison, Imogen Heap, The Verve, and as of a few weeks ago, a very healthy dosage of The xx.

• Filed Under:  
• Entertainment, Music

View Original Post at chickspeak.com