Quietus favourites The xx have spoken out about the departure of guitarist Baria Qureshi in the new issue of The Stool Pigeon.

In the interview - which you can read in its entirety here - singer Oliver Sim said: "We're a three-piece now. We've been in a band with Baria since we were 16 and known her since we were 12.

"It's just been a case of, I suppose, growing apart? It's a big jump from 13-years-old to 20. I think we've just grown into different people and I don't believe touring was for her, really."

He added: "It's been ridiculously sad, but I'm quite looking forward to seeing what spawns from here. For the first time in a long time we sat and worked, jamming in a rehearsal space trying to build up the live set again and have moved a bit further away from the album, after a stage of just reciting it.

"I feel like we're going somewhere else now - being a bit more creative, trying to put on a bit more of a show."

Pick up the latest issue of Stool Pigeon now which features Snoop Dogg, Electric Wizard, Cold Cave, Kurt Vile, Sufjan Stevens, The Flaming Lips and Vampire Weekend. Click here to find out how to get your free copy.