Have The xx done it again?

Probably one of the most anticipated albums of the year, and the 

question on everyones lips was, have The xx made an album as successful as their self titled Mercury Prize winning first one? I think we can safely say this one is big (currently being number one in the album charts), and posters have been PLASTERED around capital city.

 

Their first release 'Angels', which is a beautiful song, has worked out to be a good choice for the first album release. But it leaves you forgetting about the emotional roller coaster that is their first album, if they have found their romantic happy ending, does that mean the rest of the album will be this lighthearted?

But you get taken into their turbulent love lives as the album progresses. My personal favourites are 'Chained' and 'Missing'. The 5 second pause a third of the way into Missing creates such a tension between Romy and Oliver, that leaves you hanging. However I think The xx are a band who don't have 'better' songs, it comes down to individual taste.

Compared to the first album, it is a little different, the tracks on Coexist have a similar feel, whereas xx had a larger variation in the songs, but hey, who says its a bad thing? Coexist has definitely had more publicity, as xx was such a success, but I still have to say that I prefer xx. But how often do artists make a second album as good as their Mercury Prize winning first one?? Their unique style has continued in this album, pulling off their glacial sound, with a bit more experimentation, for example the steel drums in 'Reunion'.

If you weren't lucky enough to win tickets to their performance with a philharmonic orchestra for Radio 1, you can listen to it online, or even better get hold of some tickets for their UK tour in December. Most venues have already sold out, but try getmein.com, as the asking price isn't that bad.  

No.6

What an incredible weekend! Festival no.6, set in the Italian themed village of Portmeirion, definitely had the quirky aspect locked down. Most people will know Portmeirion for it's where the series The Prisoner was filmed in the 60's.

As if the village itself wasn't weird enough, the festival just topped it all off, from story telling and rave's in the middle of the woods to their enchanting fire and flame garden and a real life game of chess.

Iv'e personally never been to a festival quite like this. There was a much more laid-back feel to the weekend, especially as the average age was about 40, as opposed to 23! It was a high quality weekend, as attendees had the option to stay in the cottages and gatehouses spread around the village itself, or in the on site historic castle, Castell Deudraeth. The food outlets were a lot more unique than your average burger van, with a special Harvey Nichols food stand in the village and ice cream being sold from a Volkswagen camper van. 

Air View of Portmeirion

Castell Deudraeth

The line-up was pretty immense for a first time festival, including two Mercury Prize nominees (Jessie Ware and Richard Hawley), and legendary bands such as Spiritualized, Primal Scream and New Order. With over 7 stages dotted around the whole site, there was always something going on wherever you were, so you were never feeling left out. On the Clough Williams-Ellis stage on Friday night, Carl Barat of The Libertines presented an exclusive screening of The Libertines film 'There Are No Innocent Bystanders', then graced us with an acoustic set of some of the Libertines classics. I was lucky enough to interview Carl after the performance (to follow), then drank whiskey on his balcony while he offered to play any requests on his guitar! 

New Order

Primal Scream

Spiritualized

The only reviews I have read have all hailed the weekend a huge success, so hopefully they can continue it in the future. My only qualm is the fact that the camping fields were all on a slant, but hey, you can't get everything right!

Free tickets to see The xx perform with a philharmonic orchestra!

Does anybody remember that amazing show last year when Nero performed with a philharmonic orchestra?? Well this year Radio 1 have given free tickets away for this once in a lifetime opportunity to see The xx perform with a philharmonic orchestra, and I've got 2 tickets to give away! email me on katiebentham8@hotmail.co.uk if you have an interest and you may well get them! Performance starts at 7pm in Bridlington, East Yorkshire (strange, I know). Doors open at 6pm, make sure your there early as they give away more tickets than there is spaces, as some people don't turn up, and you aren't guaranteed entry.

Watch this space for The xx's album review, Coexist.