Two years on from its release, the xx’s acclaimed debut album, xx, remains rooted in the Spotify Top 30 most-listened-to albums chart, where it’s surrounded by much more recent albums. There should, then, be plenty of interest in the melancholy popsters’ new Tumblr blog at xx-xx.co.uk, where they’re promising to post “inspirations and pictures and favourite songs” while they record their second album. Unless you’re particularly into abstract nature photography, those favourite songs are the main reason to visit. Seven have been posted so far, via YouTube embeds. They come from a pleasingly wide range of styles and eras – with everything from early 90s house to 70s funk to Bulgarian choirs to a William Orbit track featuring the Sugababes. But while stylistically different, they all share that sense of melodic melancholy which made xx such a compelling record. So, while the xx don’t appear to have cheered up much, they may have found some interesting new ways to sound gloomy.