Coexist, the sophomore LP from South London trio The xx, could not have been more keenly anticipated. In the aftermath of its release, however, there wasn't nearly the same level of widespread approval that clung so fervently to the debut album. "Chained" and "Sunset" represented two of its more enchanting moments, and have been selected for the remix treatment by John Talabot & Pional, and the band's own in-house beatsmith Jamie "xx" Smith.
True to majestic form, the Iberian pair come forward bearing a typically rich, standalone interpretation, using little from the original save for the vocals. Driving the track is a synth line reminiscent of The Streets' "Blinded by the Lights," used to convey much of the same quasi-epic intensity this time around. We may know what to expect from these two by now, but it'll be a while before we grow tired of it. Conversely, Jamie xx stays very true to his own original, simply doubling its length and beefing up the framework so as to better adapt it for clubs. After an especially tense, breathy breakdown, Smith adds some techy swing to close, achieved via some nifty bass guitar loops.
Tracklist: The xx - Coexist Remixes
01. Chained (John Talabot & Pional Blinded Remix)
02. Sunset (Jamie xx Edit)
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