GO SLOW.

The XX are a new breed of bright young things. The South London teenagers pen dark, atmospheric compositions that demonstrate a natural songwriting ability far beyond their collective years, crafting songs that stay with you long after they've run their course. Introductory single "Crystalised" is one of the more breathtaking debuts we've heard in this or any other year, its spacious production and minimal arrangement giving way to the male-female vocal interplay that takes center stage as our subjects trade verses back and forth, stepping on one another's lines with a calculated grace to brilliant effect. The XX recently finished recording their debut album in the brand new one room studio at XL Recordings' Notting Hill headquarters and its currently being readied for release through Young Turks this September. XL have gambled (and lost?) on teenage bands before, but if "Crystalised" is any indication they're onto a surefire winner here.

MP3: "Crystalised" - The XX

In other news, everyone's favorite song from SXSW is now up for free download over at Domino Records. Don't sleep.

WE FLY BALLOONS ON THIS FIELD CALLED LOVE.

The fine young men of Holy Fuck and Foals have joined forces and are currently in the midst of a lengthy tour of the UK, and as is often the case when brilliant minds meet, they’ve produced something a bit special. Limited to only 500 copies and currently available for purchase in the rather excellent Young Turks Shop (where you’d also to do well to pick up one of their awesome t-shirts) is the progeny of an on-the-fly recording session in which each band chose a song from the other’s catalogue to cover and apply to a 12” slab of vinyl. Being the kind souls that they are, those handsome Young Turks have also made the tracks available for free download (in lossless format, no less) over on that blog of theirs, which should probably be in your bookmarks if its not already. Holy Fuck’s inspired take on “Balloons” is below, and make sure to run along and fetch Foals’ version of “Super Inuit” as well.

MP3: “Balloons” – Holy Fuck

// Philip Bernaerts //