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Album Description & Collectors information:
Clan of Xymox's second album, Medusa, released in 1986 on 4AD, is considered a landmark in the darkwave genre. The album features the band's signature blend of ethereal vocals, atmospheric synthesizers, and haunting guitar work.
Clan of Xymox was formed in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, in 1981 by Ronny Moorings and Anka Wolbert. The band's early music was characterized by a blend of post-punk and new wave styles, with influences ranging from Joy Division to Siouxsie and the Banshees. Medusa, the band's second album, was recorded in London in 1986 and released on the 4AD label.
The name "Clan of Xymox" was originally inspired by the Xymox Corporation, a company that manufactured photographic paper and chemicals. The band members were fascinated by the name and the idea of a corporation that could manipulate images and create illusions. The "clan" part of the name was added to give the band a sense of community and belonging. The name was later changed to simply "Xymox" in the mid-1980s, but the band reverted back to the original name in the early 1990s.
Medusa features ten tracks, with a total running time of just over 40 minutes. The album is characterized by ethereal vocals, atmospheric synthesizers, and haunting guitar work. The music is moody and introspective, with lyrics that explore themes of loss, longing, and heartbreak.
The album's opening track, "Theme I," sets the tone for the rest of the record with its mournful synth lines and plaintive vocals.
One of the most notable aspects of Medusa is the use of drum machines and synthesizers, which give the album a distinctly electronic sound. The band's use of these instruments was ahead of its time and helped to establish the darkwave genre.
Medusa is widely regarded as one of the most influential albums in the darkwave genre. The album's ethereal vocals, atmospheric synthesizers, and haunting guitar work helped to define the sound of the genre, and have influenced countless artists in the decades since its release. The album's themes of loss and longing also resonated with listeners, and helped to establish Clan of Xymox as one of the most important bands of the genre.
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