Artist description XYMOX evolved from 4AD's Clan Of Xymox in the late 80s, when the band experimented with new directions. Here, in addition to their trademark choral sounds and hypnotic electro rhythms, they added a whole range of styles and influences, taking Xymox into the'90s dance era. The last 2 albums from this period, "Headclouds" and "Metamorphosis", are long out of print and are now being offered exclusively on Mp3.com for download. After these releases, Xymox reverted back to its previous monicker, Clan of Xymox, producing anguished, dark and atmospheric electronic gothic rock and delighting fans with live performances worldwide with a repetoire of classic old and new songs. Their most recent release, "Notes From The Underground", was the Number 1 album on the Musicfolio 2001 chart and reached Number 2 on the German Alternative Chart. u

Music Style electronic,darkwave,gothic,electro, industrial

Similar Artists Depeche Mode , Cure , Sisters Of Mercy, Nine Inch Nails , Dead Can Dance , Covenant, VNV Nation,

Artist History 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, Dea d 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, throbbin g 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, sh owed 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 Millio n T hings" the band really started to create a buzz. Xymox were now not only inhabiting the arthouse but filling dancefloors in the more discerning clubs. Oktober 1988 saw the band and 4-AD part company. Encouraged by label boss Ivo they signed to Wi n g, 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 itshowed that being signed to a major con cer n wa sn'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 an d 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 band's fourth album "Phoenix" released worldwide in 1 9 91 was their last album on PolyGram and had ecstatic reviews but sold not as much as their predecessor despite their loyal U.S fan base. The band embarked on sell out tours around the world and featured in college alternative and mainstream Billboard c ha rts. 1992 and 1993 saw the releases of the albums "Metamorphosis" and "Headclouds" . 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'90 s d anc e era , it's the work of a band who are never afraid to take chances. These 2 albums are long out of print and are now being offered exclusively on Mp3.com for download. In 1994 Xymox released their first (1984 , 500 copies) limited available mi ni a lbum "Subsequent Pleasures" on Double Dutch Records and Zok Records released a REMIX album which contains o nly radio edits of the albums "Metamorphosis " and "Headclouds" compiled together. In 1996 Xymox contributed music for a CD-Rom project named "Tot al M ayhem" released worldwide by Domark.. In 1997 Ronny Moorings ended the Xymox era , reformed Clan of Xy mox and the band signed to respectively a German and a USA based Independent label named Pandaimonium Records and Metropolis Records. Th e albu m "Hi dden Faces"of Clan of Xymox relates to their 4-AD years with a nineties feel to it; Various tracks sound heavy , layered with guitars, pouding rythms, anguished & dark brooding vocals and dreamlike keyboard pads. "Hidden Faces" was Pr oduced by Dav e M.Al len (Sisters of Mercy, The Cure) and John A. Rivers (Dead Can Dance, Love and Rockets) 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 qu a lities both on record ings 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 extatic .They played already i n t he 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 bedazzeling people all over t h e w orld with thei r live s how. Also Two singles " Out of the Rain" and "This World" were released by Pandaimonium and were ranking in the top 10 of the German Independent charts and numerous Indie charts all over the world. March/ April 1999 saw the wor dwide release o f their n ew album named "Creatures" , again beautifully mixed by John A.Rivers and Ronny , also 4-AD re released the first self titled album "Clan of Xymox"with extra bonus tracks , plus the album "Medusa" incuding bonus track s i n the USA d omesticall y . Clan of Xymox backed up the new album "Creatures"with an extensive world tour in 1999 , and started in th e United States with COX headlining on the prestigious sold out Convergance Festival in New Orleans , to conti nue th eir S outhern USA tour i n Orlando, Dallas, Austin and Baton Rouge. COX will do the USA tourin two parts, to continue later in October. Already the new album has rave reviews and numerous articles in prestigious music magazines around the globe wi th s everal hight positions in the alter native charts peaking at DAC number 4 for several weeks. In the Orkus issue of May in Germany the band is hailed seperately as band, act and tour of the month in May ,and the album "Creatures" album of the mon th w ith a revie w placi ng number 1 of their c harts and number 2 in 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 num ber of F estivals during the summ er 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 th e fi nal Live Rec ordings of the South and Central A merican Shows and finished the new single called "Liberty" and Mojca keeping pace with her beautiful artw ork. Both were released in October with the double album simply named "LIVE" whilst Clan Of Xy mox kept on touring Europe ! Again both releases and t our got extatic 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 t heir best work ever. The alb um ranked al ready No 1 in the USA 's Musicfolio chart as the best album of 2001 and reached No 2 in the well known DAC charts. e

Instruments Synths & keys, guitars, programmed drums, bass, vocals

Albums 1. Clan Of Xymox (1985) 2. Medusa (1987) 3. Twist Of Shadows (1989)4. Phoenix (1991)5. Metamorphosis (1992)6. Headclouds (1993)7. Hidden Faces (1997)8. Creatures (1999)9. LIVE ( 2000)10. Notes from The Underground ( 2001)

Press Reviews Metamorphosis Jon Homer Oracle 28/10/92 For a number of years now on a couple of different labels, Xymox (Cl an of Xymox as it was) have been producing challenging and dynamic hi-tech music. In the process of the band have acquired a small but loyal following. 'Metamorphosis', a debut album on t heir own X-Ult label, could change that. It's their most rounded and complete work yet. The sound of Xymox is a multi- faced one ,incorporating as it does elements of modern dance, industrial groove an d melodic pop structures. 'Metamorphosis' isn't the most instant of albums. This is an intense place of work that requires some work on the part of the listener. Mind you, having said that it must be printed out that album highlights 'Dream On ' is a gem of a song, with it's haunting female backing vocals and unforgettable chorus. Killer stuff. No empty pop platitudes or directionless dance trance soundscapes for Xymox. Much of 'Metamorphosis' is guinuinly experimental and decidedly unsettling. The urban soundscape of 'Revolve' or the epic album closer 'High and Low' illustrate this best. No, this isn't just another pop record. This is an album with light and shade, passion and some pain. 'Metamorphosis' should not dismissed lightly * Peter Parhides Melody Maker November 14 1992 I never thought Xymox would turn into some kind of quasi-Shamen outfit. And that may be part of the problem. Everyone thinks of Xymox as an archetypal 4AD band. Probably always will. But even if they were, then this new coat suits them beautifully. Resplendent, refreshing and relentless, Xymox's music is infused with a positivism that's for the first time made me nostalgic for th e days of 'Pacific State' and 'Lightspan' When 'Awakening' welds all the aforementioned components onto an ultraconventional pop arrangement, I'm faced with the bizarre but plausible notion that this might b e in the proper, national Top 10 by spring. Not least because it's the best New Order song I've heard since "True Faith". There's something delightfully incongruous about a bunch of misarable Dutch people embracing equity culture four years too late : a bit like The Grim Reaper deciding to leave Hell in order to be in a band with Bill and Tedd. Most excellent. Headclouds Martin Thomas 1993 Independent Catalogue (Dance S ection ) Having previously released four albums (six if you include their debut mini album which was only available in their native Holland), their latest offering 'Headclouds' is an exploration into inventive g roove bound atmospherics. 'Reaching Out' takes a booming bass drum slitched to clanking percussion, a Japanese kindergarten choir and Ronny Moorings's trademark mournful vocals. Elsewhere the album explores anthem ic techno overlayered with a luxurious wash of melancholy. 'January' floats through ambient territories placing Xymox along side with the Orb et al. The cover of 'Wild is the Wind' de constructs Bowie's version and relocates it in a passionless, Euro obsessed landscape adding irony where once existed only hammed up passion. 'Headclouds is by far the best Xymox offering since their debut 4 AD album Clan of Xymox.

Location Amsterdam, NL - Netherlands

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