The xx have released a deluxe vinyl edition of their acclained debut album, specially crafted by The Vinyl Factory.

This edition – limited to only 500 copies worldwide – is available to buy now exclusively from Phonica. It’s a gatefold version (with gloss UV ‘X’ on the cover) of xx that includes the original album on super-heavyweight 12” vinyl and a second 12” that featuring a brand new and exclusive Matthew Dear remix of The xx’s ‘VCR’ on one side, and an etching on the other. The package also includes three photo prints, one of each band member, signed by each band member.

Furthermore, the band have teamed up with celebrated music video director Saam Farahmand for a unique audio-visual collaboration. xx: A Sculpture of the Album by Saam Farahmand finds Saam creating “a 3D physical interpretation” of the band’s debut album, xx, which will be displayed at The Vinyl Factory gallery space in London for six days from January 8-12, 2010. Visitors to the exhibition will also have the opportunity to purchase the special edition of the LP.

The sculpture utilises film, light and sound via three specially created audio-visual units (each unit representing one member of the band with a mix of exclusively filmed footage and mixed sound), and every visitor will enjoy  a totally unique experience of xx.  According to the press release, it’s nothing less than a totally new way to immerse yourself in a record.

It’s the realisation of a plan Saam has been formulating for some time, and he plans to extend it to other artists and albums in the future.

“Music videos are a 2D visual interpretation of a song,” he says. “We are interested in creating spaces that exist as a 3D physical interpretation of a song or an album, and that is what we have created for the album xx. It shares sensibilities with art installations but it should not be considered in this context – it is in essence a physical music video, a looping shrine to the album that you cannot compress, send or turn off.

“We have to understand that these pop up ‘rooms’ and ‘spaces’ should and will become as commonplace as music videos, bridging the gap until we have the technology to ‘stream’ a 3D experience through our home computer as if it was a Youtube clip. The xx are the perfect ambassadors for the medium. Their music is mesmerising, and deeply physically affecting.”

Saam’s early work earned him the ‘Best Director’ prize at the 2007 CAD Music Video Awards, as a new director. He has made groundbreaking videos for Klaxons, Hercules & Love Affair, Simian Mobile Disco, These New Puritans, Late of The Pier, Lightspeed Champion and Soulwax, and  recently opened an independent gallery in London, where he exhibits work from young artists, and develops future projects. Saam is represented by Partizan, who produced the xx installation.

OPENING TIMES

Private View:

Thursday 7th January

Public Opening:

Friday 8th January:   11.30am-8.00pm
Saturday 9th January  11.30am-7.30pm
Sunday 10th January   12.00pm-6.00pm
Monday 11th January  11.30am-7.30pm
Tuesday 12th January  11.30am-7.30pm

The Vinyl Factory, via Phonica Records, 51 Poland St, LONDON W1F 7LZ