From: thomas@mips.com (Chris Thomas)
Subject: Review:  Xymox, "Dream On" / "XDD"
Followup-To: rec.music.misc
Originator: recmusic@galaxy
Reply-To: thomas@mips.com
Organization: Delft University of Technology
Date: Wed, 19 Aug 1992 22:35:45 GMT

XYMOX, "Dream On" b/w "XDD" (X-ULT Records UK, 12" vinyl)

The 90s have not been kind to the Dutch band Xymox, who were one of the
mainstays of the 4AD label in the mid-80s.  After two excellent (if not
downright perfect) albums on 4AD, Ronny Moorings and Anke Wolbert saw
the light of the major-label record deal, moved to Phonogram UK (Wing/
Polygram US), partially dumped keyboardist Pieter Nooten, and coughed
up the albums "Twist of Shadows" and "Phoenix".  "Shadows" brought Xymox
their most commercial success in the US, but even that wasn't enough.
Then, the disastrous "Phoenix" bombed and got the band dropped from
their label.

Amid rumors of the total breakup of Xymox, came a report that Ronny
was working on his own and was shopping around a new single to anyone
who'd buy it.  "Dream On" is apparently that single, although there's
been virtually no news at all about what's in store for the group... if
it can still even be called a *group*.

Oh, dear.  Xymox have gone techno-rave, or so it would seem.  There's
a guitar-like rhythm at the beginning of "Dream On" that's vaguely
reminiscent of the beginning to "Wonderland" (off "Phoenix"), but that's
just about where any similarity ends.  Otherwise, we have a high-NRG,
heavy-bass song with very few words (and Ronny doesn't even sound like
himself anymore!), coupled with lots of wailing noises and heavy-duty,
rapid-fire percussion.  Completely at home in the middle of the mix at
your favorite dance-till-dawn-and-pass-me-the-smart-drinks rave spot.

Side one concludes with an instrumental version of "Dream On", which is
identical except that the few vocals have been removed.  Each of the
two tracks clock in at only 3:57.

On side two is "XDD", another five minutes of techno which sounds more
than a little like a remix of "Dream On".

It's tempting to say that this single bears absolutely no relationship
whatsoever to the Xymox of old.  However, Xymox have consistently
progressed through their view of the "popular" music of their days:
the Brit-angst of the mid-80s, the re-emergent dance/pop scene circa
89-91, and now the ever-so-popular techno sound.  Is this Xymox exposed?
Just doing whatever everyone else is?  (Even if, back in the days of
"Medusa", they "did it" better than almost anyone else in the business.)

There's only one possibly redeeming factor.  The two versions of "Dream
On" are labeled "Remix" and "Instrumental", with no "regular" version on
the record.  Perhaps the 12" is a huge, gargantuan remix of some otherwise
mostly-harmless pop/dance single, and Xymox really haven't changed all
that much from "Phoenix".  My guess is... NOT.

Ratings:  The goose bump scale (0 to 10, with 10 best) measures how often
the music made my skin tingle and my mind take notice.

	Xymox, "Dream On"		3 goose bumps


-- 
Chris Thomas                                                (408) 524-8067
S4/7 b g+ l y+ z+ n+ o+ x-/+ a++ u v-/+ j++                thomas@mips.com