Clan Of Xymox - Limbo

Clan of Xymox’s 2021 album Limbo is widely praised as a strong, melancholic, and melodic return to form, with many calling it better than their previous album Spider on the Wall. Written during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is described as a, darkwave masterstroke that perfectly balances guitar-driven goth rock with electronic pop, featuring thematic tracks about the pandemic, such as "Lockdown" and "Brave New World". Limbo continues the band's, established darkwave sound, often described as a, blend of, gothic rock and catchy, pop elements. The album is deeply influenced by the 2020 pandemic lockdowns, with songs touching on themes of social isolation, paranoia, and, the changing world. While some fans consider it one of their best modern works, others, in forum discussions, have, expressed that the, album can feel, like a, collection of, demo-like, songs, or feel, it covers familiar territory. "Lockdown," "Brave New World," and "The Great Depression" are often noted as stand-out, tracks. Overall, Limbo is seen as a poignant, consistent, and, well-produced, effort that resonates with long-time fans of the band's darker sound.

Clan Of Xymox - Peel Sessions 12”

Following their 1985 debut LP, Clan of Xymox, DJ and tastemaker John Peel invited them to BBC studios to record for his Radio 1 show. Side A of Peel Sessions was recorded on June 4, 1985 at Maida Vale 5. Ronny and Anka recount facing anxiety and technical difficulties that day, with their complicated MIDI routing and a necessary plug conversion eating into their scant studio time. But their craft shines on these recordings, unmarred by the stressful circumstances. A reverb-drenched rendition of “Stranger”, the brooding hit single from Clan of Xymox, opens the record. “Muscoviet Mosquito”, a cult number from Subsequent Pleasure, follows. It is reworked here in a more robust fashion; similar to the version that would appear on the 1987 Lonely is an Eyesore compilation. Anka’s vocals take centre stage on side closer “Seventh Time”, allegedly the song that charmed John Peel. Side B was recorded during a second Peel session on November 3, 1985, and illustrates the band’s continued development with three tracks that would appear on their 1986 album Medusa. “After the Call” was written and sung by Pieter Nooten, and has subtle echoes of Morricone amidst its proto-shoegaze drone. “Agonised by Love” and “Mesmerize”, which would later be retitled “Medusa”, both point towards the smoother, softer anguish that would characterize their sophomore LP.

Clan Of Xymox - Medusa

On November 1st, 1986 Clan of Xymox released their second studio album Medusa. Previously, Clan of Xymox’s 1985 debut LP took their label 4AD by storm, issuing a much more club-minded shade of The Cure’s heady gloom. On their second record, however, the band truly come into their own with warmer synth textures, shimmering guitars, ambient interludes, and some of the most well-crafted tracks recorded in the era. Each track is a mini-masterpiece, and songs such as “Louise” and “Back Door” never fail to give me chills. The album's high point by far is the proto-acid house "Michelle," which has the dreamy neo-psychedelic textures of Psychic TV's "Godstar" or mid-period Siouxsie and the Banshees. However, the band's fatal flaws remain clear throughout the album: although these songs are superficially attractive in a goth-dance sort of way, there's little in the way of depth or substance here, and on closer listen, one realizes that the best parts of these songs sounded even better when they appeared on earlier albums by Depeche Mode, X-mal Deutschland, Propaganda, and Bauhaus. Together though, the core song writing trio of Ronny Moorings, Anka Wolbert, Pieter Nooten, along with guitarist Frank Weyzig have created one of the definitive goth records of all time and earned in spades their spot in music history by having the term darkwave coined by John Peel himself in describing their dark and melancholic sound.

Clan Of Xymox - Clan Of Xymox

Listening to Clan of Xymox's self-titled LP is like entering a club of black-clad vampires in the mid-'80s. That's not meant as an insult; the album captures a certain time and place. The record epitomizes Ben Folds Five's hilarious discovery in "Battle of Who Could Care Less": "See I've got your old ID/And you're all dressed up like the Cure." This moody, atmospheric record is as dated as a bumper sticker from a "rock of the '80s" radio station. What once seemed cutting-edge is now a nostalgia trip, and for aging goths, Clan of Xymox is home sweet home. Clan of Xymox were never original; they always seemed to be picking from the leftovers of their predecessors: the Cure, Joy Division, Modern English, Dead Can Dance, and New Order. In other words, there are icy, throbbing keyboards; bummed-out vocals; chilly, robotic percussion; gloomy, ethereal guitars; and unusual, cryptic song titles. However, even before their creative peak with 1989's stellar Twist of Shadows, the group knew how to craft some good hooks. Clan of Xymox aims for Joy Division's oppressive bleakness, but vocalist Ronny Moorings doesn't have the late Ian Curtis' intense pain or profound lyrics. The band is at their best when their pop instincts overrule their tendency to lose themselves in misery. "A Day" and "Muscoviet Mosquito" are both mysterious and catchy, propelled by infectious gothic grooves that don't slow down. "No Words" has funky riffs which reveal that Clan of Xymox listen to new romantic groups as well, and "Stumble and Fall" is beautifully lush. There's nothing brilliant or original here; however, the group's derivative sound summarizes the dance sector of post-punk accurately as they pillage from the most popular artists of the genre. An entertaining audio essay of early- to mid-'80s goth rock; from Joy Division to Dead Can Dance, Clan of Xymox never leave a page unturned.

Clan Of Xymox - A Day 12''

Released in 1985 on 4AD, the "A Day" 12" single by Clan of Xymox is widely regarded as a defining piece of 80s gothic darkwave and a cornerstone of the band's early, acclaimed sound. It served as the lead single for their self-titled debut album and highlights the band's blend of moody atmosphere, danceable synth beats, and introspective, melancholic songwriting. The track is recognized for its dense, atmospheric production, creating an "edgy, aged darkwave concoction" with a "gothic dirge" feel. It blends melancholic melodies with a driving, dance-oriented rhythm, which became a signature of their 4AD era. The song features a mix of electronic and rock elements, utilizing synth textures and basslines that, in the 12" version, offer a more expansive sound compared to the album version.

The 12" single includes "Stranger" as the B-side, which has been described as a "masterpiece" and a "solid darkwave dance banger" featuring "fun synths" and an "eerie" atmosphere. It is often highlighted for its "Blue Mondayish" kick drum in the 12" version. 

The 1985 12" of "A Day" is considered an essential, classic release for fans of 4AD-era darkwave and early Clan of Xymox, often praised for its "perfect" blend of melancholia and danceable energy.

Xymox - Twist Of Shadows

I was asked by an anonymous follower if I had a better quality rip of the Imagination single I posted earlier this month. It seems that I do…I recently acquired the expanded two disc edition of this album which fulfils the request and rather than create a whole new post I decided to recycle and arouse this floppy old one.

Xymox – sometimes known as Clan of Xymox – is one of this writer’s absolute favourite bands, and the 1989 album Twist of Shadows was everything to me. The band had struck a deal with PolyGram’s new subsidiary Wing Records for two albums, and there was even a write-up in Billboard Magazine about it, oddly enough. The album remains the group’s biggest seller and with good reason – it’s solid through and through. Main producer Peter Walsh created an album that wasn’t saddled with that “4AD sound,” but instead gave Xymox a danceable and accessible sound that you could shake your tail feathers to if you wanted, or just sit and take in the moodier pieces. “Evelyn” starts the album off with its gigantic synth/string intro, a love song with that goth twist with lyrics like, “We walked ‘til the sunlight died.” “Obsession” was the lead single and made a pretty good impression on radio; it includes some of Ronny Moorings’ twistedly visual lyrics like, “It’s just the way it should be / It’s so right as rain / We stayed awake at night / With visions so unreal / We stayed awake at night / with visions so ideal / It’s got a hold on me”. “Blind Hearts” and “A Million Things” had already been included on a 12-inch that proved to be the final release that the band would do for former label 4AD. Here in re-recorded form and definitely not as murky sounding, they meld in perfectly with the other original numbers. “Imagination” proved to be the real surprise as the third single released, sung by bass player Anka Wolbert. It actually charted in the U.S., landing at number 85 on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles and helping the album sell over 300,000 units. Not to be forgotten is the instrumental closer composed by main keyboardist Pieter Nooten, titled “Clementina.” It is a majestic and moving end to an album that has no blemishes.

Clan Of Xymox - Subsequent Pleasures

Fans of this seminal Art-Goth band will leap at the chance to add this rare and early material to their collections. The first five tracks were recorded in 1984 and released only in a limited run of 500 vinyl copies; the band later essentially suppressed distribution of the EP, and it's easy to understand why: As the band themselves admitted later, their skills were lacking at the time and the whole thing was mixed on a portable 4 track recorder. The tracks are the 1984 rerecorded versions after Pieter Nooten had joined Xymox. With "Muscoviet Mosquito" there are signs of better things to come, and "Abysmal Thoughts" actually features a fairly interesting (if repetitive) chord progression. The last six tracks are demos the band made for the 4AD label during the same period, and they already show a marked improvement: someone in the band figured out how to use the drum machine, the songs have more than two chords, and although the singing is still lacking at least it's now farther back in the mix.

Recommended primarily to diehard fans and to those who are mainly familiar with the band's later work and are interested in seeing how far they've come.

Xymox, also known as Clan of Xymox, were together for only a year or so by the time they released their EP Subsequent Pleasures.

Vocalist/guitarist/keyboardist Ronny Moornings teamed up with bassist/vocalist Anka Wolbert, bought a bunch of 1983 state-of-the-art equipment and moved to Amsterdam before getting down to work. Their blend of the gothic and the romantic is one of those early ‘80s staples that has aged remarkably well. Subsequent Pleasures will certain satisfy many a vinyl collector. After all, the remastering job is just perfect. It could easily pass as something made today, considering the retro mood that everyone has been in lately.

The forms are cyclical and the mood is tense and brooding. The guitar is used as a textural instrument and the bass a rhythmic one and everything has a chorus-ey warble to it. The strange noises take a backseat in the mix to the clang and jangle of guitar and keys. At just 22 minutes, it neatly sums up the space that musicians were eager to fill up due to Joy Division’s absence.

The centrepiece of the EP is, debatably, a 4:31 Goth-pop nugget called “Moscovite Musquito”. Of the five original songs here, it’s the least affected one where the implied atmosphere does all of the talking. It’s got muttered verses, a Peter Hook-esque bassline and a conventional tonality. The four remaining songs play around with discord to varying degrees. “Strange 9 to 9” hangs in the air, waiting for a harmonic resolve. And when it does arrive, it’s greeted with a slippery guitar line and an Ian McCulloch yelp. “Abysmal Thoughts” sounds much like its title, if one could decipher what Moornings were saying. “Going Round” takes advantage of its title too, with a spinning polyphony reminiscent of “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” minus any pop inkling.

Subsequent Pleasures is for those times you felt that you missed out on the time when punk had melted into a confused, directionless industrial wasteland where scrap metal was king and prominent chart-toppers could kiss off.

Phoenix

When Xymox was known as the Clan of Xymox in the mid-'80s, the Amsterdam group's Euro-gothic music was very underground. But things were different in the early '90s, when Xymox was making an effort to escape its obscurity and be more commercial. There were those who labeled Phoenix as the work of a band that had sold out, but while eerie, high-tech tunes such as "Smile Like Heaven," "Written in the Stars," and "Mark the Days" are slicker and more pop-minded than Xymox's mid-'80s work, they're far from bad. The gloominess and overtly European qualities that had characterized early Xymox remained, though Xymox was definitely thinking in terms of the pop/rock audience. Phoenix may not be the most original CD in the world, but that doesn't prevent it from being consistently enjoyable.

Obsession

By 1989 Clan of Xymox had basically no more female vocal-only songs, but they gave it one last shot with this one... A New Order re-hash, yes, but New Order are so fucking good that if you rip them off well, you still end up with something brilliant. And this is. Best Goth Pop Song Ever.