The xxOr: That Time Oliver Sim Sang To Us At The Hordern And Got Everyone Instantly Pregnant. In short, this was a hypnotic show pulled off with an uncommonly high degree of cool professionalism that was balanced by a warm sensuality.
Local supports were Jagwar Ma, a rising psyche pop duo responsible for current triple J single, The Throw. Their huge dramatic numbers owe a lot to the Manchester dance pop sound of the early '90s. It was a performance drenched in Spector-level reverb and, whilst it certainly had some gutsy moments, the group came across more or less like guys pretending to be rock stars playing a stadium. It felt like product.
Such a peacock-like attitude to start the night with was an odd choice that thankfully didn't affect the main event. There was a huge shift in tone the minute the first lonely notes of Try were plucked into life. The three members of The xx all wore their usual uniform of stylish black attire and, as they calmly settled into their stage positions the room became super aware of everything they did. It was like going to a party and locking eyes with a dark stranger across the room. Every song they played had them moving closer to us, their minimalist serpentine guitar work keeping the rhythm section and the vocals connected with invisible fibres, creating a subtle net used to gently ensnare us.
Vocalists Romy Madley-Croft and Sim cooed and sighed and we all swooned while they wove their quiet spell. Their show had elegance and poise on a grand scale and even the dark bare spaces between the notes seemed graceful. Jamie Smith's rhythm production was delicate and restrained when it needed to be; then bold and colourful in turn.
The xx farewelled us with a luxurious performance of Angels and we drifted off into the night, totally and hopelessly charmed.
