Two things have been a bit surprising about Coexist for me - first, that it's been a bit of a slow burn, taking a fair few listens for me to get into it (surprising because I loved their first one and had high hopes for the follow-up), and second, that what opened up the album to me was playing it loud one day (surprising because the xx's music is so hushed, and would've seemed likely to neither need nor benefit from the volume).
Even now that it has opened up to me, Coexist remains a mistier, more muted record than that astonishing debut, its standout moments quieter, its turns in different directions (say the steel drum-touched, depressed-Knife dance track "Reunion") more subdued. It's good, though, repaying the repeated listens.
Even now that it has opened up to me, Coexist remains a mistier, more muted record than that astonishing debut, its standout moments quieter, its turns in different directions (say the steel drum-touched, depressed-Knife dance track "Reunion") more subdued. It's good, though, repaying the repeated listens.
