The sound of shyness  The xx, winners of the Mercury Prize 2010,
have invented an urban sound at once intimate and familia
Putney Bridge, south London, December 2010. Thick snow clings to
the banks of the Thames and icicles hang from wrought-iron
railings. The xx used to call this their manor, but they have
been away touring the world for the past 12 months - a year
whose peak came in September, when their debut album, xx, beat
Paul Weller, Dizzee Rascal and others to win the Barclaycard
Mercury Prize. The band's melancholic songs, with lyrics about
loneliness, lust and love, have struck a chord in Britain in
particular, providing the perfect soundtrack to our troubled
times. The BBC chose their song "Intro" for its election
coverage - and their popularity was even latched on to by the
Tories, who used their music without permission at the
Conservative party conference in October.  Tonight, The xx are
home to do something deeply un-rock'n'roll: turn on the local
Christmas lights. "They probably wanted Barbar