The XX – not be confused (like I did) with The XX Teens – have been making waves with the music media this year, and will no doubt be expecting some nods in the end of year round ups. This single was released prior the departure of guitarist Baria Qureshi (for the refreshingly honest reason of ‘personal differences’), but let’s hope the songs retain this quality.
‘Islands’ sounds like The Kills, were there more of them. A tender male-female interplay (like a relaxed Beth Ditto duetting with Maxi Jazz from Faithless) makes the vocal side a delight. It’s a sparse, soothing song, with angular riffs and minimal percussion. It’s intimate and immediate, and sounds romantic in a way you can identify with.
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The single is backed with ‘Do You Mind?’ – a cover, although I must confess to having never heard Kyla’s original. This again keeps it minimalist to begin with, but subtly creeps into something fuller, a song to listen to with the heating up and the curtains closed. Wintry, but not in a pessimistic way.
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