Night Time

"Night Time" was recorded between December 2008 and April 2009 at XL Studios in London during sessions for the xx's debut album. Jamie Smith produced and programmed the drum machine, Rodaidh McDonald engineered and mixed, with Romy Madley Croft on guitar and vocals, Oliver Sim on bass and vocals, and Baria Qureshi on keyboards. The track embodied the sparse, intimate production that distinguished the xx's debut album, using minimal guitar, bass and electronic percussion around closely recorded vocals. The album became one of 2009's most acclaimed debuts and subsequently won the 2010 Mercury Prize. "Night Time" remained part of the xx's live repertoire as the group's audience expanded internationally, often developing into a more rhythmically forceful performance onstage. Pitchfork also featured the song in its Surveillance performance series in 2010.