CLAN OF XYMOX – “Farewell” (20-year classic)

CLAN OF XYMOX
“Farewell”
(Pandaimonium/EFA)

Two years have passed since “Notes from the Underground”, and it seems that Ronnie Moorings has used every single day of this time span to work on new songs, because “Farewell” is simply a brilliant piece of music turned melancholy. While the basic features of Xymox’s style – a mixture of electronic elements and guitar sounds – have remained the same, the disc still sounds fresher and more modern than previous albums – and this does not mean “more commercial”, “simpler” or “more mass-oriented”! On the contrary, driving beats and chasing synths mix with the darkest layers of the soul of man to an abysmally dark mixture. The Wave also resurfaces in a shadowy guise, as on “One More Time” or “Into Extremes.” In contrast, “It’s Not Enough” and “There’s No Tomorrow” – which was already released as a single some time ago – are real dance floor hits, with soul and far away from any thinboard synthie dance formations. Every driving electronic sound is countered by a multiple of deep emotionality, a counterbalance of gloom, despair, sorrow, pain and longing. “Losing My Head” is an absolute highlight of the album and at the same time a symbol for human, emotional low points – heartbreak in sonic form. Clan of Xymox make clear with “Farewell” where they want to go: They say goodbye to the always grinning, superficial and cold consumer society!

Peter Sailer

(The review was first published in the Orkus issue September 2003)

The work will now finally be released on vinyl and is already available for pre-order at Fantotal.de

You can listen to the album here on Spotify: