Hypeband alert: The XX

I've been hearing (reading) a lot about this band The XX recently. I decided to actually check them out. I think with hype bands theres generally a 37% chance I'll like them. 39% if its hyped by Pitchfork. This band are one of the luckier ones.

It took 3 minutes and 8 seconds, or more accurately, the length of their single "Basic Space" for me to make my decision, with their self-conscious undermining of the more mainstream boy sings/girl sings vocal pattern, with minimal instrumental interference, yet a stylish beat. This is RnB on my wavelength.

"Crystalised" further demonstrates how they manage to bridge Indie and mainstream pop so much more subtly than any other band before them. So much so the only comparison that springs to my mind is that of Hot Chip's early output, in the form of the tongue in cheek "Shining Escalade", as far away from this particular incarnation of "indie-soul".

Definitely worth checking out their myspace page for, The XX release their album "X" next Monday through Rough Trade.

Myspace

British Sea Power

British Sea Power have a announced a new tour calling at:

Thurs 17 Jan - Belfast Spring And Airbrake
Fri 18 Jan - Dublin Whelan's
Sun 20 Jan - Norwich Waterfront
Mon 21 Jan - Portsmouth Wedgewood Rooms
Tues 22 Jan - Nottingham Rescue Rooms
Weds 23 Jan - Leeds Irish Centre
Thurs 24 Jan - Kendal Brewery
Sat 26 Jan - Glasgow The Arches
Sun 27 Jan - Manchester Academy 2
Mon 28 Jan - Oxford Academy
Tues 29 Jan - Brighton Komedia
Thurs 31 Jan - London Koko

This is in support of their new album "Do You Like Rock Music?" released on the 14th January 2008, and the single "Waving Flags" which is released a week earlier.

I'm looking forward to this tour. They've been one of my favourite bands ever since I saw them play Reading in 2005 to a relatively tiny crowd in the NME Tent while everyone else went to watch boring boring Incubus play as if they were in their living room playing to their nans.

They were my best band of the weekend then and should be amazing to see now, I've missed so manyof their tours now its getting beyond a joke...

And the new albm should be alright...ish...