The xx, four young musicians from South West London, blend the minimalism of Youth Marble Giants and early Cure with R&B influences like Ciara and Aaliyah. They gained early attention with covers of Aaliyah’s "Hot Like Fire" and Womack and Womack’s "Teardrops." After signing to XL’s Young Turks label, they worked with producers like Diplo and Kwes but ultimately self-produced their debut album at XL’s studio. The result is a melancholic yet uplifting record, echoing the suburban moodiness of Burial and Portishead’s Dummy.
