New Wave Outpost Forum

I feel like such a noob for asking but I just don't know. What's the deal with them? Same band? Different? Who's who? Is there a story here? Could someone enlighten?

Muchas Gracias

The Internet. Fascinating thing - you should try it now and then. [:o)]

OK, OK. Same Band, same players. Started as Xymox, then went to Clan of Xymox, then back to just Xymox. Not sure why - maybe some tantrumish arty thing.

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Why be difficult with just a little more effort you can be downright impossible?

From their webpage FAQ's:

Could you by the way remind us of the meaning of your band name ?

" Clan" means a close knit group united by a common interest or common characteristics and Xymox is the name I wanted to give myself as a Pseudonym way back in the early eighties, but later I decided just to use my own name. I liked Xymox so it stayed. Xymox is a bastardized version of the word Zymotic, Hence, Clan of Xymox

Why did you change the name of the band from Clan of Xymox to Xymox and then back again to Clan of Xymox?

To confuse you and the rack jobbers in the record store:)
OK, every time we changed the name it was a sign there was a certain change for the band and it's direction.

Also,

Clan Of Xymox albums >>> Xymox albums >>> Latter-day Clan Of Xymox albums (the ones w/o Peter and Anke)

[quote][i]Originally posted by XXX[/i]
<br>Clan Of Xymox albums >>> Xymox albums >>> Latter-day Clan Of Xymox albums (the ones w/o Peter and Anke)[/quote]So basically they got worse as they went along?

[quote][i]Originally posted by Berserker[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by XXX[/i]
<br>Clan Of Xymox albums >>> Xymox albums >>> Latter-day Clan Of Xymox albums (the ones w/o Peter and Anke)[/quote]So basically they got worse as they went along?


[/quote]

It sounds cliche, but, yes, they got progressively worse through the years. Most definitely the last albums are forgettable with one exception: [i]Hidden Faces[/i]. That one's actually a little better than the Xymox stuff, but you can pretty much forget about giving [i]Notes From The Underground[/i], [i]Remixes From The Underground[/i], the 2-disc live album, and [i]Creatures[/i] a try. [i]Metamorphosis[/i] and [i]Phoenix[/i] both have some decent tracks. If you're new to the band, you're better off going in chronological order; although I don't know where that would place [i]Subsequent Pleasures[/i] since that one came out in 2000, but they're the earliest tracks they recorded. You'll notice how green they sound. They probably didn't even know how to play their instruments, but it's still far and above better than the crap they've churned out as of late without the original members.

I think their best album is under the Xymox moniker, when they recorded Twist Of Shadows in 1989. It's a strong, well-produced album that has many memorable singles on it - "Obsession", "Blind Hearts", and Anke Wolbert's best song, "Imagination". A lot of their gothier, die-hard fans swear by Medusa, from 1986. It's a fine album, but "Obsession" is pretty much my favorite song ever, and I can listen to Twist Of Shadows from start to finish. Their debut, "Clan Of Xymox" (s/t), from '83, has that early 4AD goth pop sound to it, and is very good. Ronny (the singer) has pretty much disowned the material he did in the '90s under the Xymox moniker. Basically, everyone from the original band was gone, so he was Xymox. The '90s output was very much club-oriented techno music, with bland melodies, trite lyrics, and lots of forgettable songs. Their newer material, under COX, is better, and they still put out the occasional gem (check out "Falling Down" from Creatures [1999]), but in general isn't very distinctive from other current goth-rock bands. Actually, some of the newer stuff sounds like it was lifted from early Sisters Of Mercy, and that's not necessarily a compliment!

The first three albums (COX, Medusa, Twist Of Shadows) are their strongest, and best. The early 90's albums (Phoenix, Metamorphosis, Headclouds) are their weakest, and the late 90's thru now (Hidden Faces, Creatures, Notes From The Underground, Farewell) are darker and better, but hit-and-miss with each release. I really enjoy their live album from 2000 ("Live"), a 2-CD concert that's pretty much a best of all their eras (minus the early '90s).

If you haven't heard "Obsession" yet, you're missing out on of the best songs of the 1980's, in my opinion, of course.

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