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| Since their formation in their native Holland back in 1984 their music has been constantly changing, always challenging and often quite breathtaking. Some of us have always been of the opinion that XYMOX are something special. A band fired by electronic music but determined, |
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Since their formation in their native Holland back in 1984 their music has been constantly changing, always challenging and often quite breathtaking. Some of us have always been of the opinion that XYMOX are something special. A band fired by electronic music but determined, always, to make something that is very much their own. They are unique.
First there was Clan of Xymox, formed in Amsterdam but signed to leading English independent label 4-AD, home at one time or another to the Cocteau Twins, Dead Can Dance, Pixies, Throwing Muses, among others.
1985 saw the release of the band's self-titled debut album. Recorded at Edinburgh's famed Palladium Studios and co- produced with 4-AD supremo Ivo, it was a record full of tumbling electro beats, throbbing sequencers and moody vocals.
1987 saw the band provide a track for " Lonely is An Eyesore", a fascinating compilation album highlighting the diversity of talent on the 4-AD roster. "Muscoviet Musquito", sandwiched between Dif Juz and Dead Can Dance, showed a more confident side to the band. Album number two was a very different beast.
1987's "Medusa" was mostly a dark record, in places a chilling exercise in atmospherics and modern pop dynamics. Aided by the impressive 12 inch single "A Million Things" the band really started to create a buzz. Clan Of Xymox were now not only inhabiting the arthouse but filling dance floors in the more discerning clubs.
October 1988 saw the band and 4-AD part company. Encouraged by label boss Ivo they signed to Wing, a left of centre subsidiary of media monolith PolyGram. The band shortened their name to Xymox and gave the world 1989's "Twist of Shadows" album, their debut for Wing. It was in many ways a bold record and it showed that being signed to a major concern wasn't going to stifle a natural sense of musical adventure. Supported by three excellent 12 inch releases "Obsession", "Imagination" and "Blind Hearts" - this was an album that confirmed the diversity of their appeal as again they clicked in both dance and alternative circles. For years Xymox had enjoyed cult status across Europe but were now beginning to cause a stir in America. "Twist of Shadows" had sold in excess of 300,000 copies.
The bands fourth album "Phoenix" released worldwide in 1991 was their last album on Wing , a division of PolyGram and had ecstatic reviews but sold not as much as their predecessor despite of their loyal U.S. fan base. The band embarked on sell out tours around the world and featured in college alternative and mainstream Billboard charts. The sub label Wing seized to exist.
"Metamorphosis" and "Headclouds" are the latest two albums, released on Zok Records, an independent label, solely working for Xymox. Here, in addition to their trademark choral sounds and hypnotic electro rhythms, are albums taking a whole range of styles and influences, taking Xymox into the '90s dance era, it's the work of a band who are never afraid to take chances.In the UK they nearly entered the top 40 charts with the "Reaching Out" single and was played on heavy rotation in the UK.
In 1994 Xymox re released their first ( from 1984 , only 500 original printed copies exist) limited available mini album "Subsequent Pleasures" on Double Dutch Records and without consent Zok Records released a " Remix " album which contains only radio edits of the albums "Metamorphosis " and "Headclouds" compiled together.
In 1996 Xymox contributed music for a CD-ROM games project named "Total Mayhem" and a year later the music for the game "Revenant" , released worldwide by Domark..
In 1997 Ronny Moorings ended the Xymox era, restarted Clan of Xymox and the band signed to a brand new USA and German based Independent label Tess Records.
The album "Hidden Faces" of Clan of Xymox relates to their 4-AD years with a modern feel to it; Various tracks sound heavy, layered with guitars, pounding rhythms, anguished & dark brooding vocals and dreamlike keyboard pads. "Hidden Faces" was Produced by Dave M. Allen (Sisters of Mercy, The Cure) and John A. Rivers (Dead Can Dance) This album marked the reformation of Clan Of Xymox and it's attitude towards it's own written history, convincing everyone once again of their qualities both on recordings and live performances.
In 1997 and 1998 Clan of Xymox were touring their album Hidden Faces and played also their favourite songs from the 4-AD era of which the reactions and reviews have been ecstatic. They played already in the USA, South America and most countries of Europe, headlining festivals with high lights such as the Gothic Wave Festival in Leipzig and the Zillo Festival, performing in front of 25.000 people and keep on intrigue and bedazzling people all over the world with their live show. Also the Two singles "Out of the Rain" and "This World" were released were ranking in the top 10 of the German Independent charts and numerous Indie charts all over the world are now considered club classics.
1999 saw the release of their darkest album ever, named "Creatures", again beautifully mixed by John A. Rivers and Ronny , on their new North American label Metropolis Records and Pandaimonium Records in Europe. Containing the song "Jasmine & Rose" now a club classic! Also 4- AD re released in the USA domestically the first self titled album "Clan of Xymox" with extra bonus track " Muscovite Mosquito), plus the album "Medusa" including 3 bonus tracks (the Scum Single).Clan of Xymox backed up the album "Creatures" with an extensive world tour in 1999, they started in the United States with COX headlining on the prestigious sold out Convergence Festival in New Orleans, continued to tour the USA and returned a few months later again.
The album had rave reviews and numerous articles in prestigious music magazines around the globe with several hight positions in the alternative charts, peaking at DAC number 4 for several weeks. In the Orkus issue of May in Germany the band was hailed as, Band, Act and Tour of the Month in May, and with the album "Creatures" being Album of the Month, a review placing it number 1 of their charts and number 2 in the Soundcheck of Sonic Seducer / Zillo.
In the year 2000 Clan of Xymox concentrated also on a tour and promotion in Europe, East Europe the USA/Canada and Latin America and continued to play a great number of Festivals during the summer in Europe with a personal highlight for the band being the former Olympic Stadium Palacio d' Deportes in Mexico City where 20.000 people attended their concert.
In August 2000 Ronny Moorings mixed the final Live Recordings of the South and Central American Shows, finishing the single "Liberty" and Mojca keeping pace with her beautiful artwork. Both were released in October with the double album simply named "LIVE" whilst Clan Of Xymox kept on touring Europe! Again both releases and tour got ecstatic reviews.
September 2001 saw the Clan live at big festivals such as Mera Luna, Zillo and Eurorock but also the release of " Notes From The Underground ", acclaimed by critics as their best work ever. The album ranked already No 1 in the USA 's Musicfolio chart as the best album of 2001 and reached No 2 in the well known DAC charts plus numerous chart positions around the globe.
The year 2002 saw in April a new tour plus a very first Remix Album of the band, all tracks of "Notes From The Underground " remixed by renowned artists like Front 242 or Assemblage 23 etc, called REMIXES FROM THE UNDERGROUND".
A few months later the single " There's No Tomorrow" was released with various remixes on it and soon 2003 saw the release of their latest album" Farewell", till date the most critically acclaimed record. It topped the DAC charts with a number 1 position, number 2 on the World DJ charts, was voted number 1 in Zillo Magazine soundcheck , basically topping in many alternative charts around the world.
Fans and critics are equally ecstatic about "Farewell", claiming it is COX best album to date. Also for the very first time in the dark musical history of Peru, Clan Of Xymox gave a concert in Lima, where they never had a gothic / electro band performing in Peru before. Hundreds of fans were waiting for the Clan to arrive at the airport! Other Latin American countries were included on this tour like Chile & Argentina were COX already played before. Between 2002 & 2003 saw Clan Of Xymox touring many countries in Europe, playing festivals, a return to Mexico, in short playing many shows for many people. In 2004 a new live members joined the band on guitar,Mario Usai .
The bandmembers on stage are from this date : Ronny Moorings, Mojca, Mario Usai, Agnes Jasper& Denise Dijkstra
In September 2004 the Best Of Clan Of Xymox album was released , featuring new recordings of older 4AD material and some new mixes of more recent material as well, the 14 track album features 2 tracks per released Clan Of Xymox album..charting number 1 at the DAC and several other top 10 positions in several other charts....The tracks were chosen by their loyal fans.
2005 will see most likely the release of a DVD, it is a lot of work so COX won't give any guarantees for it. Ronny will take this year also extra time to work on a next album.
And the band plays on!
Source: http://www.clanofxymox.com/ |
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