Medusa | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1 November 1986 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 42:18 | |||
Label | 4AD | |||
Producer | Clan of Xymox and John Fryer | |||
Clan of Xymox chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Medusa | ||||
|
Medusa is the second studio album by Dutch dark wave band Clan of Xymox. It was released on 1 November 1986 by 4AD. Founding member Pieter Nooten re-recorded the songs "After the Call" and "Theme I" on Sleeps with the Fishes , his 1987 collaborative album with Michael Brook, following a brief split from the band.
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Melody Maker | favourable [2] |
Sounds | favourable [3] |
Medusa is seen by some critics as the group's career high point. Sounds described Medusa as an "overriding achievement [...] every track sounds like the finale to a brooding epic overture". [3]
Melody Maker wrote, "Sleek, efficient, even dramatic, Xymox understand the value of a direct understatement [...] [Medusa is] a bright flash of hope in these blackout days". [2]
All tracks are written by Ronny Moorings, Pieter Nooten and Anka Wolbert.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Theme I" | 2:54 |
2. | "Medusa" | 5:53 |
3. | "Michelle" | 2:59 |
4. | "Theme II" | 1:43 |
5. | "Louise" | 5:17 |
6. | "Lorretine" | 3:33 |
7. | "Agonised by Love" | 5:18 |
8. | "Masquerade" | 3:54 |
9. | "After the Call" | 5:55 |
10. | "Back Door" | 4:52 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
11. | "Blind Hearts" | 4:19 |
12. | "A Million Things" | 4:37 |
13. | "Scum (Dance Mix)" | 7:12 |
Clan of Xymox, also known as simply Xymox, are a Dutch rock band formed in 1981. Clan of Xymox featured a trio of songwriters – Ronny Moorings, Anka Wolbert, and Pieter Nooten – and gained success in the 1980s, releasing their first two albums on 4AD, before releasing their third and fourth albums on Wing Records and scoring a hit single in the United States. Their 1980s releases included synthpop/electronic dance music. The band is still active, continuing to tour and release records with Moorings the sole remaining original songwriter.
Seconds Out is the second live album by English progressive rock band Genesis. It was released as a double album on 14 October 1977 on Charisma Records and was their last to feature guitarist Steve Hackett prior to his departure. The majority was recorded in June 1977 at the Palais des Sports in Paris during the Wind & Wuthering Tour. One track, "The Cinema Show", was recorded the previous year at the Pavillon de Paris during their A Trick of the Tail Tour.
Michael Brook is a Canadian guitarist, inventor, producer, and film music composer. He plays in many genres, including rock, electronica, world music, minimalism and film scores. His collaborations with musicians around the world have made him "one of the most sought-after producers in the music industry." Born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Brook lives in Los Angeles. He was the creator of the Infinite Guitar.
A Kiss in the Dreamhouse is the fifth studio album by British rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees. It was released on 5 November 1982 by Polydor Records. The record marked a change of musical direction, as the group used strings for the first time and experimented in the studio. Guitarist John McGeoch played more instruments, including recorder and piano. For Julian Marszalek of The Quietus, the release proved the Banshees to be "one of the great British psychedelic bands."
Doremi Fasol Latido is the third studio album by English space rock band Hawkwind. It was recorded at Rockfield Studios and released in 1972. It reached No. 14 on the UK album charts.
Mask is the second studio album by English post-punk band Bauhaus. It was released in October 16 1981 by record label Beggars Banquet.
From the Lions Mouth [sic] is the second studio album by English post-punk band The Sound, released in November 1981 on record label Korova. Following the release of their previous album Jeopardy, keyboardist Belinda "Bi" Marshall left the group and was replaced by Colvin "Max" Mayers. For their new album, The Sound worked with producer Hugh Jones, as well as co-producing the album themselves. The album's sound was more polished than previous efforts.
Clan of Xymox is the debut studio album by Dutch dark wave band Clan of Xymox, released 1 July 1985 by 4AD.
Robyn Is Here is the debut studio album by Swedish singer Robyn. It was released on 13 October 1995 by Ricochet Records, Ariola Records and BMG. The album peaked at number eight on the Swedish chart and was certified double platinum by the Swedish Recording Industry Association (GLF). In the United States, the album was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), and had sold more than 922,000 copies by June 2010, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Worldwide, the album has sold over 1.5 million copies.
The Pacific Age is the seventh studio album by English electronic band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), released on 29 September 1986 by Virgin Records. It was the last of two OMD albums produced by American record producer Stephen Hague. "(Forever) Live and Die" became the band's third hit single in the US and returned the band to the top 20 in the UK, peaking at No. 11. The album received generally unfavourable reviews and is held in low esteem by frontman Andy McCluskey.
The Frozen Autumn is an Italian darkwave band, formed in May 1993, characterized by a blend of melancholic vocals, atmospheric gothic-wave and 1980s-style electropop.
Big Ship is an EP by Cardiacs, released in January 1987. It was an album-sized vinyl record played at the speed of a single (45rpm) and was issued with a lyric insert. It was the first Cardiacs release to exclusively feature the so-called classic 1980s line-up of the band.
Subsequent Pleasures is the first mini-album by Dutch dark wave band Clan of Xymox, self-released in 1983 under the band's original name Xymox.
Anka Wolbert is a Dutch musician, singer, songwriter and web developer, best known for her work with Clan of Xymox.
Pieter Nooten is a Dutch musician and composer best known for his work with Clan of Xymox.
Twist of Shadows is Xymox's third full-length album, released in 1989 on Wing Records (PolyGram) and produced by Peter Walsh.
Phoenix is the fourth studio album by Dutch dark wave band Xymox, released in 1991 by Wing Records/PolyGram. It was produced by Peter Walsh. Guitarist Michael Brook guested on the tracks "The Shore Down Under and "Mark the Days".
Frank Weyzig is a Dutch producer, composer and band member known for his contribution to the original Clan of Xymox and his work for the indie new wave band, Born for Bliss. More recently, Weyzig has been involved with Vaselyne, White Rose Transmission and Stargazing Project. In January 2011, he founded Turmoil Music, a new music platform for independent artists.
Ronny Moorings is a Dutch musician best known for his work with darkwave band Clan of Xymox. Moorings has been the band's principal singer/songwriter since the early 1990s.
Sleeps with the Fishes is the lone collaborative album from Clan of Xymox founding member Pieter Nooten and Canadian guitarist/producer Michael Brook, released by 4AD on 12 October 1987. Intended as Nooten's debut solo album after a brief split from Clan of Xymox, the record turned into a collaboration with Brook after a suggestion from 4AD label founder and boss Ivo Watts-Russell. Though not a huge commercial success, Sleeps with the Fishes was described by AllMusic as "essential listening for fans of 4AD, ambient music, minimalism, experimental electronic music, and morose themes alike... an overlooked masterpiece."