A chance meeting with Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard of Dead Can Dance led to an invitation to support that band on a UK tour, and then a recording contract with their record label, 4AD.
Their first two full length albums, self-titled "Clan of Xymox" and "Medusa", comfortably settled Xymox into their own niche of blooming melodics and smooth grey lyrical originality, with Ronny's songwriting coming as a fresh and very welcome abstract to the plastic and packaged synthpop of the late 80s. In 1989, Ronny saw a chance to evolve and left 4AD, releasing Twist of Shadows which proved to be their most complete and mature offering thusfar, and was their most successful yet.
With the next two albums, "Phoenix" and "Metamorphosis", fans were left with something of an out of body experience - as Xymox was sounding nothing like themselves. Metamorphosis was truly that however, its failure created a catalyst for Moorings to jump to yet another label, part ways with his bandmates, and pickup Mojca Zugna on bass. Zok records re-released "Metamorphosis" and a new EP - Headclouds. Moorings took a four year break (he worked on 2 CD-Rom games music projects of Domark ) to introspect and write, and gave fans the wondrous gift that is Hidden Faces, admittedly the logical followup to "Medusa".
After leaving Wing in the early nineties, Xymox became the sole signing to the independent label, Zok Records. They released four recordings, primarily in the dance genre: "Metamorphosis", "Headclouds", one remix CD, and they re-released "Subsequent Pleasures".
In 1997, the band reclaimed their original name, Clan of Xymox, and began the work of reclaiming their original sound and glory. "Hidden Faces", produced by Dave Allen (of Sisters fame) and John Rivers (of Love and Rockets note) hearkened back to the 4AD years, and although it did not completely regain the power of their initial sound ( not intended either), it was clearly the best work they had done since "Medusa". This release was followed by a number of American and European dates, including co-headlining the Zillo and Leipzig festivals in Germany. In relation to these intriguing live shows, Pandemonium records released two singles "Out of the Rain" and "This World" which rose to the top 10 in the German Independent Charts.
In 1999, Clan of Xymox signed on with Metropolis Records, and delivered "Creatures" to a public that had been waiting for the true follow-up to 1985's "Clan of Xymox" album for 14 years. "Creatures" not only captures the sound of their amazing debut (which has also been reissued in 1999 along with "Medusa"), but infuses it with the dark rock and Gothic guitar styles of such masterful bands as Andrew Eldritch's Sisters of Mercy.
2000 marked a first for the Clan of Xymox. After thousands of requests from fans for a live album, Clan of Xymox returned with "Live", a double live CD which featured nineteen tracks and two QuickTime videos. All of the tracks were recorded during their Central and South American tour in 1999, and could almost be considered a best of. A re-issue of the ever increasingly hard to find "Subsequent Pleasures" EP featuring many obscure pre-4AD demos, as well as a new single, "Liberty," followed.
Metropolis's second studio album by the Clan of Xymox was 2001's "Notes from the Underground." It combined haunting yet atmospheric synth lines with dark rhythms, powerful beats and lively guitar strumming to yield a release based on agony and anguish caused by being disconnected from society. A double remix CD was released the year after titled "Remixes from the Underground," featuring the mixing talents of Front 242, Beborn Beton, Iris, Assemblage23 and many more.
Clan of Xymox spent the two years following "Notes from the Underground" Combining elements from their past, present, and future, Clan of Xymox mix haunting and atmospheric synth lines with dark rhythms, powerful beats and lively guitar strumming to yield an album based on agony and anguish caused by being disconnected from society ( as described by musicfolio) to work on their next record, "Farewell," which was released in 2003. "Farewell" yielded club-friendly songs sitting comfortably along side moody atmospheric tracks to create a hybrid which can only remotely be described as Dark Goth Electro. The basic theme that runs through "Farewell" is about leaving everything behind and going away, which can be exhibited through the lyrics that tell the sad and bitter tales of love and relationships.
One year later, the band released their first 'best of' CD simply titled, "The Best of Clan of Xymox." In the words of Ronny Moorings, "…The most difficult task was to pick the best of songs…but with the help of our fans who voted for their favorite songs on-line we finally got the resulting tracks… Whilst listening to the final running order as listed here I just got swept from period to period, remembering all kind of people and situations. I am sure you too will have memories with certain tracks, so all I want to say to you now is: cherish your moments in life!"
For 2006, Clan of Xymox released the "Weak in My Knees" digital single as a precursor to the upcoming full length, "Breaking Point." The new album exhibited a more mature sound than on its predecessors, and leaned more towards dark rock than gothic rock. Subtle keyboards overlaid with guitars and live drum sounds were the focal points of the release. However not to be outdone by the music alone, Ronny Moorings’s deep sensuous vocals accentuated the music and brought forth the deeper meanings of the songs - such as in "Calling You Out," "Eternally" and "We Never Learn."
2008 saw the first (European P.A.L) )release of their first double DVD, including videos,clips , live performances and an interview with Ronny Moorings
2009, before the release of the actual album the band released digital only singles for "Heroes" and "Emily" as teasers. In the band’s twenty fifth year, Clan of Xymox presented "In Love We Trust." The stunning opus adroitly combines the early melancholic 4AD sound of the band with the glimmering synthesizer sounds of the 90s and the power of classic darkwave. Past and present were perfectly combined to showcase the music that has kept Clan of Xymox relevant and popular after all this time.
With this release, Clan of Xymox demonstratively returned to its roots while nevertheless remaining up to date. After spending the past two and a half decades forging a path for others to follow in the dark music scene, "In Love We Trust" proves above all that their creative potential is a long way from coming to an end.
Clan of Xymox has become now - a velvet lined room smelling of roses and clove, the distant chime of crystal engaging crystal, and the slow lilting line of smoke forming nameless shapes as it draws you ever in.
2011 " Darkest Hour" was released, according to poponaut : Ronny Moorings’ passion for huge, sensual melodies, mystical sound experiments and seductive dance rhythms is as unbroken as it ever was. Melancholy, energy and determination rule “Darkest Hour”, a record whose tracks “My Reality” or the hypnotic club hit “Delete” will work on any dancefloor, but that also delivers gripping entertainment and world-class Goth hymns with “Dream Of Fools” or the breathtaking “Wake Up My Darling”. Crowned, as usual, with Ronny’s unmistakable vocals instilling the necessary dark passion into his Dark Wave elegies.
End December 2011 (USA) and early 2012 in Europe The track "In Your Arms Again" from the lastest album " Darkest Hour" was included in the David Fincher's film "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" starring Daniel Craig & Rooney Mara, a remake of the book by Stieg Larsson.
October 2012 saw the release of “Kindred Spirits”, true to its title, Ronny Moorings did not exorcise a new CLAN OF XYMOX studio album, but assembled an intimate, strongly biographic collection of cover songs. A time travel back to the artists’ musical idols, influences and soul mates.
In 2014 a brand new studio album named" Matters Of Mind, Body And Soul", was released. The album explores COX's signature, melancholic sound, as evidenced by standout tracks such as “I Close My Eyes” and “Love'S On Diet" or the dark brooding " The Climate Changed".
CLAN OF XYMOX pull out all the stops and deliver energy, ideas and creativity as if they were about to release their debut album – and not their 15th studio work. „She is Falling in Love“ shines with lost melodies and vibrant electronics as if Ronny Moorings made a song with DEPECHE MODE, „Kiss and Tell“ shyly kisses the Wave era on the cheek before daring a fatal love affair with classic Goth dreaming.
„Matters of Mind, Body and Soul“ melts contrasts like these into a coherent, harmonious, passionate album that would have become one of the genre's biggest milestones 20 years ago. Yet, thanks to Ronny Moorings ingenious craft, even today this album manages to reach a goal that has long become unreachable for other contestants of this art form: To deliver a timeless, deeply emotional Gothic record.
A worldwide tour followed in 2014 including Australia as well.
In September 2014 , 3 tracks of Clan Of Xymox's first Debut album were taken for a USA released movie " The Guest". A soundtrack album will also be released. Among the other artists like Sisters Of Mercy, Love and Rockets & Front 242. The Guest (2014) is an American psychological thriller film, directed and edited by Adam Wingard, and written by Simon Barrett. The film stars Dan Stevens, Maika Monroe, Brendan Meyer and Lance Reddick.
Clan Of Xymox keeps touring in 2015 and has world wide tour dates announced till the end of 2015 on their home page.
Current live lineup:
Ronny Moorings - singer and single songwriter for the band, programming, words, guitar, piano, synths, keyboards, vocals
Mojca Zugna - bass, vocals
Sean Goebel - keyboards
Mario Usai - guitar
Discography (as Clan of Xymox):
1985 - Clan Of Xymox
1986 - Medusa
1997 - Hidden Faces
1999 - Creatures
2000 - Live
2001 - Subsequent Pleasures (reissue only CD)
2001 - Notes From The Underground
2001 - John Peel Sessions
2002 - Remixes From The Underground
2003 - Farewell
2004 - The Best Of Clan Of Xymox
2006 - Breaking Point
2008 - Visible DVD
2009 - In Love We Trust
2011 - Darkest Hour
2012 - Live at the Castle Party (Audio CD& DVD) Special Issue
2012 - Kindred Spirits (cover versions)
2014 - Matters Of Mind, Body And Soul
2017 - Days of Black
2020 - Spider on the Wall
2021 - Limbo
As Xymox:
1983 - Subsequent Pleasures (Vinyl, 12" Limited to 500 copies)
1989 - Twist Of Shadows
1991 - Phoenix
1992 - Metamorphosis
1993 - Headclouds
1994 - Remix (bootleg)
Jasmine and Rose
Clan of Xymox Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A sensory shock that jolts my spirit, I slowly swallow you
A spray of little droplets, a fragrance so refined
The spirit of nostalgia is passing me by
Opium and Poison, Jasmine and Rose
Dream of Ambrosia, all flavours glow, It's sensual,It's sensual, sensual
Against your willing flanks and knocking down your door
Until the day it crumbled, no game of win and lose
You told me nothing, you left me confused
Expelled like poison, a trim of the dose,
A limb disposed of, in a whim she chose,so rigorous,she's vigorous
She's vigorous,
Heart of the hardest world, it's just the thought of you
All those variations, the air is full of you
The smell of summer rain, once more the scent of June
This sweet concentration ,brings me back to you
Opium and Poison
My taste of June, my taste of you
Inhale, inhale your trail
Opium and Poison, Jasmine and Rose, dream of escape with me, all flavours go,
It's sensual, it's sensual, it's sensual
What was ours will drift away, a simple breeze on a humid day
Oh, nothing lasts, nothing lasts, forever
The song "Jasmine and Rose" by Clan of Xymox is a beautiful yet bittersweet love ballad that intricately weaves together the scents and memories associated with a lost lover. The opening verses of the song are incredibly sensory, with the air of June carrying the scent of the person the singer is longing for. The lyrics describe how the scent brings on a "sensory shock" that the singer slowly swallows up, almost like a drug. The chorus compares the scent to opium and poison, as well as jasmine and rose, alluding to the intoxicating and dangerous nature of the love the singer experienced.
The middle section of the song switches to a more descriptive narrative about how the relationship began and ultimately ended. The lyrics describe an easy and willing beginning, with the two lovers knocking down each other's doors to be together. However, the relationship eventually crumbles, and the singer is left confused and alone, wondering why they were left behind. The lyrics also reference a harsh and rigorous side to the lost lover, with the word "vigorous" used to describe their actions.
The final verses of the song return to the sensory descriptions of the scent of June and the memories associated with it. The lyrics lament the fleeting nature of love and how it can drift away like a simple breeze on a humid day. Overall, "Jasmine and Rose" is a beautiful and haunting ode to lost love that expertly conveys the emotions and memories surrounding it.
Line by Line Meaning
The air tastes just like you, it's the smell of June
The scent of June reminds me of you and it feels like you are around me.
A sensory shock that jolts my spirit, I slowly swallow you
The smell is so intense that it surprises me and I feel like I'm taking it inside me.
A spray of little droplets, a fragrance so refined
The scent is very gentle and subtle, and feels like it's coming from a spray of tiny droplets.
The spirit of nostalgia is passing me by
The scent is making me feel nostalgic and reminds me of the past.
Opium and Poison, Jasmine and Rose
These are the different scents that the author is experiencing and mentioning.
Dream of Ambrosia, all flavours glow, It's sensual,It's sensual, sensual
The combination of different scents is becoming very sensual and pleasurable.
It all began so easy, with you on the floor
The relationship started off easily, with the person on the floor.
Against your willing flanks and knocking down your door
The relationship was physically intense, with an element of force.
Until the day it crumbled, no game of win and lose
The relationship ended suddenly without any clear winner or loser.
You told me nothing, you left me confused
The person left without any explanation, causing confusion.
Expelled like poison, a trim of the dose,
The relationship ended suddenly and harshly, like getting rid of a poison or trimming a dose of medicine.
A limb disposed of, in a whim she chose,so rigorous,she's vigorous
The person ended the relationship suddenly and without any warning, and did it vigorously.
Heart of the hardest world, it's just the thought of you
Despite everything, the author still thinks about the person and their heart is pained by the memory.
All those variations, the air is full of you
The author is surrounded by different memories and versions of the person in their surroundings.
The smell of summer rain, once more the scent of June
The scent of summer rain reminds the author of the scent of June and the person.
This sweet concentration ,brings me back to you
The scent is so strong and sweet that it brings back memories of the person.
My taste of June, my taste of you
The scent of June feels like the author's taste of the person and their memories.
Inhale, inhale your trail
The author is inhaling the scent and following the memories it brings.
What was ours will drift away, a simple breeze on a humid day
Everything they had is drifting away, just like a breeze on a humid day.
Oh, nothing lasts, nothing lasts, forever
Everything comes to an end eventually, and nothing lasts forever.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: R.W. MOERINGS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
גל וסטרייך
The air tastes just like you, it's the smell of june
A sensory shock that jolts my spirit, I slowly swallow you
A spray of little droplets, a fragrance so refined
The spirit of nostalgia is passing me by
Opium and poison, jasmine and rose
Dream of ambrosia, all flavours glow, it's sensual, it's sensual, sensual
It all began so easy, with you on the floor
Against your willing flanks and knocking down your door
Until the day it crumbled, no game of win and lose
You told me nothing, you left me confused
Expelled like poison, a trim of the dose,
A limb disposed of, in a whim she chose, so rigorous, she's vigorous
She's vigorous,
Heart of the hardest world, it's just the thought of you
All those variations, the air is full of you
The smell of summer rain, once more the scent of june
This sweet concentration, brings me back to you
Opium and poison
My taste of june, my taste of you
Inhale, inhale your trail
Opium and poison, jasmine and rose, dream of escape with me, all flavours go,
It's sensual, it's sensual, it's sensual
What was ours will drift away, a simple breeze on a humid day
Oh, nothing lasts, nothing lasts, forever
Charles Draven
Jasmine and Rose
The air tastes just like you, it's the smell of June
A sensory shock that jolts my spirit, I slowly swallow you
A spray of little droplets, a fragrance so refined
The spirit of nostalgia is passing me by
Opium and poison, jasmine and rose
Dream of ambrosia, all flavours glow, it's sensual, it's sensual, it's sensual, sensual
It all began so easy, with you on the floor
Against your willing flanks and knocking down your door
Until the day it crumbled, no game of win and lose
You told me nothing, you left me confused
Expelled like poison, a trim of the dose
A limb disposed of, in a whim she chose,so rigorous, she's vigorous
She's vigorous, she's vigorous
Heart of the hardest world, it's just the thought of you
All those variations, the air is full of you
The smell of summer rain, once more the scent of June
This sweet concentration, brings me back to you
Opium and poison
My taste of June, my taste of you
Inhale, inhale your trail
Opium and poison, jasmine and rose, dream of escape with me, all flavours go
It's sensual, it's sensual, it's sensual, it's sensual
What was ours will drift away, a simple breeze on a humid day
Oh, nothing lasts, nothing lasts, nothing lasts, forever
גל וסטרייך
The air tastes just like you, it's the smell of june
A sensory shock that jolts my spirit, I slowly swallow you
A spray of little droplets, a fragrance so refined
The spirit of nostalgia is passing me by
Opium and poison, jasmine and rose
Dream of ambrosia, all flavours glow, it's sensual, it's sensual, sensual
It all began so easy, with you on the floor
Against your willing flanks and knocking down your door
Until the day it crumbled, no game of win and lose
You told me nothing, you left me confused
Expelled like poison, a trim of the dose,
A limb disposed of, in a whim she chose, so rigorous, she's vigorous
She's vigorous,
Heart of the hardest world, it's just the thought of you
All those variations, the air is full of you
The smell of summer rain, once more the scent of june
This sweet concentration, brings me back to you
Opium and poison
My taste of june, my taste of you
Inhale, inhale your trail
Opium and poison, jasmine and rose, dream of escape with me, all flavours go,
It's sensual, it's sensual, it's sensual
What was ours will drift away, a simple breeze on a humid day
Oh, nothing lasts, nothing lasts, forever
Yosif Mauri
תודה לך
Marco Soares
Thanks for posting this !
A great song deserves to be sung properly by the non english speaking fans of the band !
Greetings from Brazil 🇧🇷 !
XxXchinatigerXxX
I hate to break it to you but it's The Sisters Of Mercy's 'Walk Away' with a new vocal track which is sung in the same style as Andrew Eldritch's original. Look up the album 'First and Last and Always' by The Sisters of Mercy, play 'Walk Away' and tell me I'm wrong.
The Noble One
Why don't we have cool music like this anymore? The 80's was a unique time for music. I don't know why this kind of music all died out by the 90's. It's like people forgot to be inventive and creative. Anyway, the Dutch really know how to spawn some awesome bands. Greetings from the USA.
Darla Lathan
I still dance to it in clubs!
stijn hoolsteens
This is from 1999 and is still around nowhedays
Reena H.
May I recommend you a band called Ploho? I'm 100% sure you won't be disappointed, if you ever start with their song called Город устал.
Amjad Alhaffar
U r wrong there is still good music out there , just stop looking for the trendy bands
some kid
@Amjad Alhaffar Exactly. It's harder to dig and keep up with newer bands because the older ones were already sifted and cherry-picked for us. You really gotta have conversations with other music fans and follow tons of record labels, go to a ton of concerts.
Bands are popping up and releasing music at a way higher rate than ever before, because creating music is more accessible and cheaper. Unfortunately, that means the market's polluted with mediocrity, but it also means there's more diversity and unique artists.
Check out the bands Fearing and The Rope