Clan of Xymox

I love this album and Clan of Xymox because they are always originals, never picking from the leftovers of their predecessors.

Bought my first copy of this in 85 after hearing A Day on college radio. Still think it was their peak, and maybe the high water mark of an entire genre of 80's music. It is still magic after all of this time.

The "official" review here is baffling. It's like someone who had never even heard of Xymox and wasn't terribly fond of the genre to begin with listened to a snippet from a single song and slapped a label on. Honestly I can't think of any other artist to compare them with. Truly original and not nearly as dated as some other groups from that time. The first three albums are stellar. Later stuff tends more toward techno but their first album is certainly the definitive.

In 1983 Ronny Moorings and Anka Wolbert met while studying at University in Amsterdam by day, and absorbing the nascent new-romantic clubs by night. Eventually, both developed a nack for understanding what makes a good club song. Thankfully, they met the moody but vastly gifted Pieter Nooten around the same time. The result was this album, and for a rare instance in pop music history a gifted multi-instrumentalist composer was able to mesh his talents with that of two charmingly awkward songwriters with limited instrumental skill but an ear for rhythm. They recruited the also talented Frank Weyzig to fill in the gaps, and such was the birth of Xymox and this debut album. This album is what John Peel coined "darkwave" and for good reason: Xymox manages to reconcile the lush, tonal harmonies of New Wave with the dark introspective lyrics of gothic rock being pioneered by the Cure around the same time. Songs like "Stranger", "A Day", and "No Words" are beautifully catchy, while ambiguously menacing. Many Xymoxheads consider this the band's best album but it actually got better with "Medusa" in my opinion. Download the whole album, then Medusa, and see what musical perfection sounds like.

This is a true original. The disparaging "official" review is poorly written and far off the mark. All music is derivative to some extent, and of course (Clan of) Xymox have their reference points, as noted, but they also certainly have their own sound. The eerie romantic moodiness and arrangements are distinctive and memorable. By the way, "Twist of Shadows" is hardly their creative peak, although it's perhaps the most "pop" effort. This album, or "Medusa", are better considered the creative peak.

This album is TIMELESS and does NOT sound dated in any way. I am THOROUGHLY confused as to how the iTunes review claims this sounds like Joy Division and the Cure (obviously the viewer is either quite young and/or completely ignorant of the music scene this came out of and helped define). This is way more what they currently call "shoegaze with a drum machine" then goth... When this was released, nobody used the term "gothic" nor referred to themselves as such. This is GREAT unique stuff! Cry In The Wind is my personal fave...

who writes the album reviews on itunes? Xymox is an original. they sound nothing like the cure or joy division. and i know because this is the music i listen to. and tell ben folds not to quit his day job.

It has a real good feeling when I hear the songs. I think you should buy it but I don't want to influence your desicion.

This was one of the first cassettes I purchased with my allowance! I wore that tape out and then later bought it on CD. I love it now just as much as I did then. Stumble & Fall and A Day are my faves on this disc. I love the mixes at the end as well. Of course Stranger is still a big club hit here in Dallas. One of their greatest albums!

This album defines Clan of Xymox. This band along with Modern English, early Cocteau Twins, Throwing Muses and Dead Can Dance helped create the whole 4AD sound. Personal favs are No words and No Human Can Drown. Check out Medusa.