In the opening moments of Romy Madley Croft’s début solo album, “Mid Air,” the British singer makes a request: “Can you turn it up a bit more?” It’s an entreaty often heard from musicians, usually either onstage, as a rallying cry, or in the studio, as an urgent demand. Coming from Madley Croft, though, it’s a surprise. As a vocalist and guitarist for the British trio the xx, Madley Croft’s signature has been a kind of hushed timidity, her voice often barely rising above a whisper. It’s a key to the spare and downcast style of the xx—made up of Madley Croft, the bassist and vocalist Oliver Sim, and the producer and keyboardist Jamie Smith, known as Jamie xx—who have released three albums since they formed the group, as teen-agers living on the outskirts of London. The lyrics for the xx’s self-titled first album, from 2009, were largely written by text messages sent from their respective childhood bedrooms, partly because all three were so shy.
Read Full Article »
