The xx release new demo 'Open Eyes' - audio

The xx posted a demo of a new song titled 'Open Eyes' on their official blog today. You can listen to it by clicking on the player at the bottom of this story.

The band wrote:


They started the blog to document the recording process of the follow up to their Barclaycard Mercury Prize-winning debut record 'xx'. In November, they shared: "We have started recording our second album! We have also started this blog where we will post our inspirations and pictures and favourite songs."

In an interview with The Creators Project, Jamie xx revealed that the new record has been influenced by "club music", and that they want to release it in time for next year's festival season. The band are set to make their live comeback next year at Primavera Sound festival in Barcelona.

"The majority of stuff that I'm working now is The xx stuff," he said. "We're just about to start recording. Hopefully we'll get it done in time to be asked to do festivals next year, because that's the most fun."

The xx unveil details of second album 'Coexist'

The xx have announced their second album will be titled 'Coexist' and released on September 10.

The London trio, who played six new songs at their live comeback in the capital last month, recorded the follow-up to their 2009 self-titled debut in their own London studio.

The band's Jamie Smith once again took on production duties on the album, which they began work on in early November 2011 before completing the sessions last month.

Speaking to NME, singer and guitarist Romy Madley Croft said the new songs show the evolution of the band over the past few years. "I've been thinking that I hope people enjoy it as a separate thing. The first album exists – we're not trying to make it again, she said, before adding:


She added that although she's "happy we've progressed" the new material is "not prog rock".

The band have been largely silent during the making of the album, other than revealing it would be influenced by "club music" and posting regular YouTube embeds on their blog, http://xx-xx.co.uk.

To read a world exclusive in the studio interview with The xx, where they give the full inside story on the making of 'Coexist', pick up next week's issue of NME, which is on newsstands and available digitally from next Wednesday (June 6).

The xx are due to play at Italy's Traffic festival tonight (June 8), ahead of their slot at Primavera in Portugal tomorrow (9). They then play a number of global live dates before returning to the UK to play Bestival on September 7.

The xx on their new tracks: 'They're all love songs'

The xx have spoken to NME about their second album, 'Coexist' - which is set for release on September 10 – explaining that all the songs on the record are ''love songs''.

The band's Jamie Smith once again took on production duties on the album, which they began work on in early November 2011 before recently completing the sessions.

Speaking to NME, Romy Madley Croft of the London based trio said the album title references "lost love – from exes or the person you're with now." She added of the album's content:


The band were largely silent during the making of the album, other than revealing it would be influenced by "club music" and posting regular YouTube embeds on their blog, http://xx-xx.co.uk.

To read the world exclusive in the studio interview with The xx, where they give the full inside story on the making of 'Coexist', pick up this week's issue of NME, which is on newsstands and available digitally now.

The xx play a number of global live dates before returning to the UK to play Bestival on September 7.