On 17 August 2009, the group released their debut album xx on Young Turks label. The album was recorded in a small garage and produced by the band. It garnered critical acclaim and has been generally well-received, scoring an average of 86/100 based on 24 professional reviews. Also it ranked on "best of the year" lists with Rolling Stone placing it at #9 and NME placing it at #2.
Four singles were released from their debut album: "Crystalised", "Basic Space", "Islands" and "VCR".
The xx also remixed the classic song "You've Got The Love" originally written by The Source and covered by Florence + the Machine. They also added their own vocals on the song. The group won the 2010 Mercury Prize for their album on 7th September 2010. After being the bookies' favourites for many of the weeks leading up to the announcement, they beat eleven other acts.
"Angels" was the first single from The xx’s second album, Coexist. It was released on July 16 2012. A second track from the album, "Chained", was released on line prior to the official Coexist launch on 11 September.
In June 2014, it was revealed in an interview with Dazed that the trio were working on their third studio album, with producer Rodaidh McDonald at the Marfa Recording Company studio in Marfa, Texas. Further writing and recording sessions were held in London, New York, Reykavik and Los Angeles. The 2016 album 'I See You' title and tracklist, were revealed after untitled audio clips uploaded to Spotify were matched on Shazam. 'On Hold' was launched on November 10th.
http://thexx.info
Basic Space
The xx Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Easy to take
You could take me in for us
Make me a deal
A day apiece
Take it off, just stay a week
I'll take you in pieces
I've softened shipwrecks right from the start
I've been underwater
Breathin' out and in
I think I'm losin' where you end and I begin
Basic space
Openin'
Don't look away
When there's nothin'
There
I'm setting us in stone
Piece by piece before I'm alone
Air tight before we break
Keep it in
Keep us safe
This pool of boiling wax
I'm giving in that is sick
Got to fill this in
Gotta just?
Why don't we learn how to keep what I have
Preserved
Basic space
Openin'
Don't look away
When there's nothin'
There
Hot wax
Has left me with a sign
Wouldn't know if I've been left behind
Second skin
Second skin
I can let it out
I still let you in
I can let it out
I still let you in
The lyrics of "Basic Space" by The xx capture the essence of a relationship that is reaching a turning point. The lines "Nick just waits to fly / Easy to take" suggest that one person in the relationship is ready to move on, while the other is more hesitant. The song is a plea from the hesitant partner to stay together, "Make me a deal / A day apiece / Take it off, just stay a week."
The next verse further highlights the uncertainty of the relationship. The lines "I've been underwater / Breathin' out and in / I think I'm losin' where you end and I begin" suggest that the singer is struggling to maintain a sense of self within the relationship. The chorus, with its repetition of "Basic space / Openin' / Don't look away / When there's nothin' / There," emphasizes the looming emptiness that threatens to overtake the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Nick just waits to fly
Nick is eager to escape something or someone
Easy to take
It is simple for someone to take control of a situation
You could take me in for us
If you took control, it would benefit both of us
Make me a deal
Negotiate with me
A day apiece
One day at a time
Take it off, just stay a week
Relax and stay here for a week
I'll take you in pieces
I'll take you slowly
We can take it all apart
We can disassemble everything
I've softened shipwrecks right from the start
I've always been good at fixing things that are broken
I've been underwater
I've been in a difficult situation
Breathin' out and in
Trying to cope with the situation
I think I'm losin' where you end and I begin
I feel like we're becoming too intertwined
Basic space
Simplicity
Openin'
Opportunity
Don't look away
Don't ignore the opportunity
When there's nothin' there
Even when it seems like there's nothing to gain
I'm setting us in stone
I'm making us permanent
Piece by piece before I'm alone
Slowly creating a solid foundation before being left alone
Air tight before we break
Protecting what we have before it falls apart
Keep it in
Keep it together
Keep us safe
Protect us
This pool of boiling wax
This overwhelming situation
I'm giving in that is sick
It's exhausting me
Got to fill this in
Need to resolve this issue
Gotta just?
Need to focus
Why don't we learn how to keep what I have
Why don't we learn to maintain what we already have
Preserved
Kept in good condition
Hot wax
Intense feelings
Has left me with a sign
Has given me a sign
Wouldn't know if I've been left behind
I don't know if I've been abandoned
Second skin
Second layer of protection
I can let it out
I can release my emotions
I still let you in
I still trust you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Baria Qureshi, James Thomas Smith, Oliver David Sim, Romy Anna Madley Croft
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@HappipuChan
Neck, chest, waist to floor
Easy to take, you could take me in fours
Make me a deal, a day a piece
Take it all, just stay a week
I'll take you in pieces
We can take it all apart
I've suffered shipwrecks right from the start
I've been underwater, breathing out and in
I think I'm losing where you end and I begin
Basic space, open air
Don't look away, when there's nothing there
I'm setting us in stone
Piece by piece, before I'm alone
Air tight, before we break
Keep it in, keep us safe
It's a pool of boiling wax
I'm getting in
Let it set
Got to seal this in
Can't adjust, Can't relearn
Got to keep what I have, preserve
Basic space, open air
Don't look away, when there's nothing there
Hot wax has left me with a shine
Wouldn't know if I'd been left behind
Second skin, second skin
I can't let it out, I still let you in
I can't let it out, I still let you in
@jaimeap
Never gets old and it connects on a primal level
@missdianaful
They sing like it takes them no effort, and their voices complement each other so well and it sounds so good <3
@Bassario
Their songs kinda do take no effort to sing lol... still immaculate though, Id give an arm to be able to make music so melodically and poetically sound.
@CharliHaze
That's what we call perfect harmony
@Ana-yh9le
that guitar riff in the end gave me goosebumps. so simple yet a perfect way to end this song
@kaelutz
i remember listening to this song all day long like 5-6 years ago
@anthonyjenkins6966
Snap!
@bewbeezy
and suddenly that's now 10-11 years ago.
@FalloutConspiracy
What a breath of fresh air they are. I have to say that I'm loving their laissez-faire style. Their songs are cool without being narcissistic and somehow manage to deliver the goods without overindulging in ear pillaging guitar riffs. Also Romy and Oliver's vocals compliment each other quite well. Their minimalist approach to music is highly underrated and is what draws so many people in. Really good song right here.
@Matias-fo9bt
WEED AND THE XX: THE PERFECT COMBINATION