On Sept. 11, following a three year absence after the release of their debut album, London trio The xx released their long awaited sophomore effort “Coexist.”  2009’s critically acclaimed self-titled release included singles like “Crystalised” and “Islands” and topped a number of different charts.
Together, dressed in an almost exclusive wardrobe of black, Romy Madley Croft , Oliver Sim, and Jaime Smith (known by his stage name Jamie xx) create an instantly recognizable sound and musical aesthetic that translates from their self-titled debut, “XX” into “Coexist.”
The xx seem to have taken everything they have previously done and almost completely stripped it away into an album of minimal bliss and empty space that emphasizes the use of guitars, steel pans and the distant sounds of keyboards.  The production on “Coexist” is slight, but includes a wide variety of instruments and programed background beats by Jamie xx that contain influences from dance to Jamaican.
Utilizing an already skeletal frame, they have created an atmosphere that is almost defined by space not just sound. The album opens with almost whispered vocals from Croft, whose voice demonstrates intense amounts of intimacy on tender tracks like “Angels”, one of the two tracks  released as singles in July.
Lead bassist Sim provides  backing vocals that echo throughout tracks on “Coexist.” The often hushed vocals from Croft and Sim interlace on most tracks, but Sim’s carries weight on songs such as “Fiction,” a track that features his haunting voice and a stream of guitars.
Lyrics bring out simple stories from the heart. On “Angels,” Croft sings “Everyday I’m learning about you. The things that no one else sees. If someone believed me. They would be as in love with you as I am.”
Pulsating beats played on “Reunion” transition seamlessly into “Sunset.” Romy and Sim sing at times in almost perfect unison over broken pieces and the pains of lovers forced to become strangers. “I always thought it was a shame that we have to play these games. It felt like you really knew me. Now it’s like you see through me.”
The album’s overall theme, much like “XX”, revolves around love, relationships and heartbreak and includes songs that really do break your heart.
“Coexist” transports you to a world of melancholic sounds where heartache and intimacy are able to live in complete coexistence.  The XX was formed in 2008, and they are scheduled to play a sold out show at Soma on Oct. 11.