“Intro,” by The xx … (Instrumental / Dream-Pop – Music to Your Ears–5)

I spent long office hours listening to the soothing “languorous swirl”  of this magnificent piece.

The xx – “Intro”

“Intro” (2009)

This dreamy and rhythmic minimalist piece has been called a “British indie pop gem”  (by journalist Gabrielle Moss). It has also been praised as being “moody,”  “intoxicating,”  and “seductively special.”   

Although “Intro”  is generally said to be an “instrumental”  piece, it does include some wordless chanting, but nothing that could be called lyrics or singing. 

An Eternal Intro

The original version was apparently only 2:08 long. This “long version”  stretches that to 7 minutes, but the first version I ever heard was an extended mix, a “seamless edit”  that ran unceasingly for about 6 hours.

(That “seamless edit”  version has been removed from YouTube – unfortunately. I used to spend half my days at the office getting paid while listening to its “languorous swirl”  through headphones. Fortunately, a 4-hour edit has been uploaded. Find link below.)   

While “Intro”  made the charts in the UK and other European countries, the highest it’s ever reached was Number 50. Regardless, with the critical acclaim it has received and with the appreciation it continues to garner from listeners, this piece ranks among the most seductive and intoxicating music to our ears.    _{(Image source)}

The xx

The xx is a British indie pop band that formed in London in 2005. Its unique minimalistic music is almost ambient in nature, albeit with a beat.    

Their debut album, titled simply “xx,”  reached Number 3 on the UK Albums Chart, and made it onto several “best-of-the-year”  lists. The band has also released 2 subsequent albums, as well as numerous EPs, singles, and videos. 

A Grand Mix

Guitarist and vocalist Romy Madley Croft has said that the band is “really quite a huge melting pot of different stuff.”  Their interests and influences stretch from Jimi Hendrix through Siouxsie and The Banshees and The Cure, all the way (backwards, maybe?) to Mariah Carey and Beyoncé.      _{(Image source)}
Reference – Wikipedia
Reference – Wikipedia

A Very Long Mix

          The xx – "Intro"  ... 4-hour edit      _{(Right-click to hear on YouTube)}

Into your ears … through 5 channels

 The various posts are categorized into 5 channels _{(Right-Click to see details)}
         1 – “Music to Your Ears” (MTYE)
         2 – “Cover Versions”
         3 – “Honor Roll”
         4 – “Documentaries”
         5 – “Mock’n’Roll”

Links to my other series ...

          Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 1"
          Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 2"

          Great Lyrics, a compilation – “Part One – My Lyrics Posts 3~30”
          Great Lyrics, a compilation – “Part Two – My Lyrics Posts 31~60”  

          Vocab-Ability – "Introduction to Vocab-Ability"  
          Vocab-Ability – "Index"  to all Chapters and Sections  

          Notes from Under the Tatami Mats – "Part One – Notes 1~50"  
          Notes from Under the Tatami Mats – "Part Two – Notes 51~87"