| Coexist | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 5 September 2012 | |||
| Recorded | November 2011 – May 2012 | |||
| Studio | The xx's studio (London)[a] | |||
| Genre | Indie pop | |||
| Length | 37:11 | |||
| Label | Young Turks | |||
| Producer | Jamie Smith | |||
| The xx chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Coexist | ||||
Coexist is the second studio album by English indie pop band the xx. It was released 5 September 2012 by the Young Turks record label.
After a break from touring for their 2009 self-titled first album, the xx's band members began to write songs individually before they recorded Coexist from November 2011 to May 2012. For the album, the group drew on personal experiences for their songwriting, while their music was influenced by the electronic dance scene that occurred when they had been away on tour. It was produced by the band's Jamie Smith, who had pursued electronic dance on other projects and developed as a DJ prior to the album.
Coexist features a minimalist musical style with spatial arrangements, loose song structure, minimal variation in dynamics, and experimentation with tension. Its songs are characterised by sparse elements such as simple chord progression, keyboard ostinatos, and fading motifs, while Smith's production incorporates both programmed beats and live percussion instruments. The lyrics, written by guitarist Romy Madley Croft and bassist Oliver Sim, feature inner monologue and simple metaphors to explore a failing relationship and the emotional dynamics of a romance.
The album debuted at number one on the United Kingdom's Official Albums Chart while selling 58,266 copies. It also charted in the top 10 in several other countries and was eventually certified platinum by the Independent Music Companies Association, having sold at least 400,000 copies in Europe. To promote the album, four songs were released as singles, including "Angels" and "Chained", while the xx toured during June to December 2012 throughout Europe and North America. Critically, Coexist was also a success, with several music publications ranking it as one of the year's top-ten albums.
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