Customer Reviews

Notes from the Underground

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Once again Xymox prove they can keep the underground 80's Goth club scene alive and well. This album, while not predominately sounding like a verbatim tribute to Sisters of Mercy that was prevalent throughout their last album Creatures, does retain Ronny's monotonous Andrew Eldritch style vocals. While I actually liked their brief foray into the techno-rave scene with 1993's Headclouds, their return to roots with 1997's Hidden Faces was only natural and a positively welcome choice. Notes From the Underground is an introspective, self-reflection album. The songs are a bit more ambivalent and it sounds as though Xymox is doing some soul searching on this album. It is more melancholy and sentimental and an invocation of the vintage Medusa days, seeking a new direction without deviating from the successful trademarked formula it has embraced for nearly three decades and by the end of the album it asks the listener; "We've been doing this for so long, where do we go from here?" The answer lies in what Xymox does with its next album. Does it continue to emulate itself and continue cranking out more traditional 80's style Goth into the techno-pop infested 21st century, or do they decide to reinvent themselves which has either proven chemically successful or resoundingly disastrous for so many a band. For now, this new album is mandatory for any fan and Xymox is one of only a few bands whom I traditionally continue to purchase their new albums on the day of release solely on blind faith. They have yet to let me down. May that tradition continue for many years to come.

Remember buying that first Xymox album?? Remember when you'd go to a club and you'd hear Xymox, The Sisters, The March Violets, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, Killing Joke and a few select others all in a row and found that the albums would be in the stores within the week?? Well, those days are gone---the days when there was such an abundance of great music coming out that it was difficult to keep up with it due to lack of knowledge or money--- it was a vibrant time.... Now, most of us that have been around for a while have spent our money on re-building our collections on CD and sadly, going back to our old favorites for a listen due to a lack of anything really solid coming out. I've seen too many old favorites turn to drival and will admit that Xymox was one of them---(two brilliant albums followed by years of nonsense)---but, as someone that craves high quality music that's a bit more on the dark/Goth side--I gave "Notes" a chance and it hasn't left my CD player since.... Why compare this to anything? Oh it sounds like to Sisters....etc.... It sounds like the Clan Of Xymox---aside from the sleek production, this is the third album I WISH they would have released and it would fit nicely in their catalog as such...

Beautiful music once again from Mr Moorings mind. Yes, fan and non fans this Cd does have similarities in sound to other bands but keep in mind they blend it together into there own unique XYMOX sound. Although they have changed there sound a bit over the years (suttle change) believe me, it's not like they sound like Britney Spears (by the way her sound serves a purpose also)For fans this is a great CD continuation of the band/for new comers - If u like Sexy/Sensual/Alluring Music that will put a devilish smile on your face, then this is for u. All others get it because it's good!

As a long time fan of Clan of Xymox I can say that this album is a complete success. They have kept true to the sound that most of use have come to love in thier music. While they deviated away with Headclouds and Phoenix they have come full circle with the last few releases with this album completing the circle. Welcome back the dark and melancholy music that drew so many of us in the beginning with albums like Subsequent Pleasures and Medusa. The melodies are not quite as complex as previous albums, however, I did't feel that this hindered the overall enjoyability of the album itself. Of course some more songs like "Without a Name" couldn't hurt in the future :)

This is my favorite clan album and i do love them all. I think it captures the dreamy lonliness from such songs on Medusa like Louise or Agonized by Love. the atmosphere swirls in my head and takes me to my past. This album made me remember old loves and it caused a great pain in my heart. During "Something Wrong" the itro flows in like a mist in the valley of a dream with synths. This song is fitting to the last moment of an ending relationship. You look into each other's each and feel that pain knowing that nothing will be the same. it speaks with a kind tongue with very little bitternes. "You can't forget the time you fell into her trap
You can't forget the time you fell into the web
Some might fear another call of your regret
And after all it's wonderful how she broke your wall
So much for your freedom
So much for your thoughts
So much for your feelings
So much after all........" Ronny sings this with such light anguish like a man numb to an incident that had just happened to ease your pain. he understands love and what it does to us. Ronny truly knows how to write lyrics that can relate to the human emotion of love in every form. To me this album seems more whimsical than creatures(another great album). Notes made me think of a dream I had last night after listening to the album. I was in a play ground and a girl that I recently stopped talking to there was with me with her child. the little child was very talkative and happy to see me and i gave her a kiss on the cheek. the atmosphere was very somber but the girl i knew and i were drawn to each other and shared a kiss. its been along time since we have talked besides having a tender moment. i was lost in this dream and felt very alone and sad for the distance that has grown---well that is how this album makes me feel very much like the lyrics to Louis.

All in all, I feel as though "notes from the underground" will be more appreciated in the future, as it will hopefully rank in the same status of classic "Gothic" albums such as Dead Can Dances' "Within the Realm of a Dying Sun", among many others. I like it slightly more than "Farewell", since, in my opinion, "notes" has more feeling and more intelligent song-writing than it's predecessors.

In a futile attempt in trying to find the newest VNV Nation CD, 'Futureperfect', I stumbled upon 'Notes From The Underground' by Clan Of Xymox and for some reason felt very compelled to buy something by a band I'd never even heard before. However, being that my mind was set on purchasing something else I went home and did a little research on the group and discovered that they were signed to the same label as VNV Nation was: Metropolis records. I then went to mp3.com and listened to "The Bitter Sweet" and instantly feel head over heels in love with the group's industrial-rock/alternative goth fusion.

Clan Of Xymox is an amazing band and I'm so grateful to have checked into their music instead of just dismissing the cover's strange allure... The lyrics are darkly intriguing with synthy goth beats that are bound to leave you utterly helpless as it pulls you into its web of no return...

Ronny Moorings is a musical genious (as another reviewer stated before me) with a vocal style that is sexy (in a dismal sort of way) and captivating in every sense of the word. And while Clan Of Xymox can be compared to a dozen other groups, the most common influence I hear is from The Cure. The vocalization is completely altered but the musical guitar arrangements on songs like "At Your Mercy" and "Liberty" hit Cure-esque right on the dot! It's on subtle goth tunes "Innocent" and "I Want You Now" that Clan Of Xymox truly shine on though, with "The Same Dream" riding on similar winds as VNV Nation because of its more industrial/futurepop sound. Not to mention (for good measure) the drifting background vocals of Sonja Rozenblum...

'Notes From The Underground' took a while to grow on me but, like most of my favorite records (i.e. 'Visual Audio Sensory Theater' by Vast), they take the longest to reveal their awesome majestry.

I have been a Clan fan dating all the way back to the Medusa and self-titled CDs, but lost track of them for several years. When I came across this one randomly in the record store and listened to it, I was floored! Seeing as how the last CD I heard from them was the ill-fated Metamorphosis, I was extremely happy with this offering. Combining a Cure-like richness of sound and lyrics with a Sisters Of Mercy tone, this CD should please any goth music lover. Though I do miss Anka's contributions on the earlier CDs, Roger Moorings has more than come into his own in this musical genre. A must-have for Xymox fans!

the clan always and i repeat always put out good records under the full name clan of xymox this album is beautiful i drive at night through the arizona desert with this album playing. it resembles the lost love that many of us encounter. his voice is deep and sultry and can evoke intense memories of life. the harsh electronics are not quite industrial but they play along withe lyrics and the mood like what the doors did for jim morrison. its poetic, timeless, and almost belongs to the listener exclusively. still has the desperate love loss of medusa its perfect for watching the moon at 3am and letting your imagination go

"Notes From the Underground" is, in my opinion, the greatest offering from Clan of Xymox to date. This is coming from somebody that loves ALL of their albums! This release has a sort of "zen" to it, as it flows very smoothly from beginning to end. Each song is the perfect predecessor to the next, and each stands well on its own. It's hard to pick favorite tracks from a CD with nothing but great songs, but I'd have to say that "Something Wrong", "Anguish", "Internal Darkness" are up there. Ronny just keeps getting better and better, and I look forward to all future Clan of Xymox releases.