Xymox - Biography
Clan of Xymox (also known as Xymox) are a Dutch Darkwave band. Although rarely if ever praised for their originality, over their long existence they’ve consistently mixed portentous atmosphere underpinned by dance beats.
In 1983, guitarist/vocalist Ronny Moorings first began recording as Xymox. After the addition of bassist Anka Wolbert, the duo released a self-published EP, Subsequent Pleasures, which rather transparently drew from the mopey moods of Joy Division and The Cure, albeit with rudimentary ability. Originally limited to 500 vinyl copies (and later suppressed by the band), their debut was eventually re-released on CD, bolstered by six demos the band recorded after relocating to Amsterdam, that showed marked improvement.
Clan of Xymox were joined by Moorings’s roommated, keyboardist Pieter Nooten, and they opened for Dead Can Dance in the UK. In 1985, they signed with 4AD, who released Clan of Xymox (1985 4AD). It produced a couple of songs popular with the goth scene, “A Day” and “Stranger” and the band recorded a Peel Session at the BBC. They followed with Medusa (1986 4AD). In 1987, the band’s name was once again shortened to Xymox. They contributed a re-recorded version of "Muscoviet Mosquito” for the 4AD compilation Lonely Is An Eyesore. After one more single, “Blind Hearts,” Xymox left 4AD and signed with Polygram.
Twist of Shadows (1989 Polygram) was their most commercially successful album, selling around 300,000 copies. Their next album, Phoenix (1991 Polygram), failed to match its predecessor’s success. Having lived in London during the Second Summer of Love and Madchester, Moorings pursued a new direction. Although it mostly retained their characteristic moroseness, it was their least gloomy work and added house and baggy-influenced beats. The stylistic shift alienated some of their po-faced fans and Wolbert left the band.
Xymox’s time at Polygram was short-lived and in 1992 they signed with ZOK Records who released another highly danceable album, Metamorphosis (1992 ZOK). After another dancey album, Headclouds (1993 ZOK), Moorings returned to Amsterdam, took a break from recording and re-immersed himself in the goth and industrial scenes. When Moorings returned in 1997, with Hidden Faces (1997 Tess), he was once again calling the band Clan of Xymox and returned somewhat to the band’s signature lachrymose sound. In 1998, they signed with Metropolis Records in the US and Pandaimonium Records in Europe. Creatures (1999 Metropolis) followed. In 2000, they released the 2-CD Live (Metropolis). Notes from the Underground (2001 Metropolis) was reworked and as a result released as Remixes from the Underground (2002 Metropolis). On Farewell (2003 Pandaimonium), songs like "Cold Damp Day" and "Dark Mood" almost approached parody. Breaking Point (2006 Gravitator) was followed by In Love We Trust (2009 Metropolis), by which time Moorings’s once-tuneless mumble had deepened into a voice reminiscent of Andrew Eldritch. As of 2010, Clan of Xymox are based in Leipzig, Germany. In 2011 they released Darkest Hour, followed by Kindred Spirirts in 2012.
