Watch The XX own the Guggenheim

The xx totally belong in a museum.more

Before these U.K. kids came along, phrases like "hazy minimalism" only applied to chillwave, and indie fans the world over didn't know about all the amazing Aaliyah records they were sleeping on. With their self-titled 2009 debut, the xx changed all that, creating an environment where smart, subtle, soulful guitar bands could thrive. They returned thee years later with Coexist, another spare stunner to step back and admire.

Earlier this week, the xx stopped in New York City to play the Guggenheim Museum, and as the videos below show, the trio justified its place among the priceless works of art. Scroll down to see footage of the band performing the old favorites "Crystalised," "Islands," and "Angels."

And start getting ready for some new music.

"This year has been a creative one for us so far, we have been hard at work writing and recording new music in a few different places around the world," the band writes in a just-released newsletter, as Pitchfork reports.

The xx go on to reveal that they've recently spent time in Marfa, Texas, and a town outside of Reykjavik, Iceland. This week, they'll fly from their home base in London to Los Angeles, where they'll resume writing and recording.

"Although all very different, each of these places have been inspirational environments to create music in, and each will have an influence on the new album," the newsletter continues. "The whole process is a big adventure and we can't wait for a time when we'll be able to share the music with you."

Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris, Getty Images