Album review: The xx - I See You

The grumpy stereotype that attached to The xx circa their 2009 debut album was misleading. The London art-pop trio were, without question, deeply serious, even po-faced, about their music and had the crestfallen aspect of people who saw rainclouds at the edge every silver lining.

However, they weren’t quite the startled deers in headlights they were often portrayed as, with even their earliest releases demonstrating unsinkable confidence and breadth of vision. Under the goth trench coats and bleak quiffs were musicians who knew what they were about and determined not to have their heads turned by early success (including a 2010 Mercury Music Prize nomination).