“Crystalised” by The The xx

The xx introduced themselves with "Crystalised", their debut single, released on 27 April 2009 as the first taste of their self-titled debut album, with Jamie xx producing. It's a study in restraint: Robert Christgau heard the same blueprint as "VCR", a hooky, repeating riff dressed in a few subtle effects, then the voices, bassist Oliver Sim's exaggerated drawl answered by guitarist Romy Madley Croft's warmer, more human croon.

The two share lead vocals and trade lines in a flirtatious call and response that NPR's Rachel Kowal likened to the duets on Stars' Set Yourself on Fire, only without the bitterness of former lovers. The romance is imagined, like most of the album: the song grew out of a verse Sim wrote while picturing what a fling might feel like, drawing on the relationships he saw around him rather than any of his own.

Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.