The xx
Barely above a whisper, Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim's intertwined vocals drifted over Jamie xx's sparse beats and Romy's clean, echoing guitar on xx, a debut that won the Mercury Prize in 2010.
The south London trio, who formed at the Elliott School, made space and silence part of the sound, and 'Intro' turned up everywhere from TV to adverts. Coexist pared things back further, while I See You let in brighter samples, including Hall & Oates on 'On Hold'.
All three have since released solo albums, and they returned to the stage in 2026 as work continues on a fourth record together.
If you like The xx you should check out: Jamie xx, Cocteau Twins, Mazzy Star, Massive Attack, Portishead, Sade, Four Tet, Floating Points, Lana Del Rey
