Hidden Faces

Amsterdam man Ronny Moorings reformed old band Clan Of Xymox in 1997 and released this, the first Moorings album to go out under the COX banner since 'Medusa' (1987). Here Moorings goes back to his roots, picking up where 'Medusa' left off yet updating the sound for a new era. Does this album make up for lost time? I think so, yes. 'HF' spawned two hit singles, the crushing 'Out Of The Rain' and the poignant 'This World'. This album was such a return to form for Moorings that it inspired old label 4AD to re-release their classic debut album, 'Clan Of Xymox'. This album should satiate anybody into Depeche Mode, The Sisters Of Mercy or even The Cure. Besides the two big songs, 'HF' features the class guitar-blast 'Sing A Song' as well as the Dead Can Dance-ish 'November' and seven other strong efforts like 'Wailing Wall' All in all `Hidden Faces' was a brilliant return to form for the Clan.

It begins with a fanfare bigger than Spinal Tap's collective hair. And as is usual with Ronny Mooring's outfit (his "band", and probably his chosen attire as well) much of this comeback debut comes off as a bit contrived and melodramatic - - not to say overwrought; there is no "Agonized By Love" this time around. But it probably depends on how seriously you take it. All minor keys and synthblasts, when it's good ("Going Round '97"; "Out Of The Rain"; "Special Friends") it's exhilarating; when it's bad ("This World"; the egregiously phony "Wailing Wall") it's just plain bad. In between are atmospheric instrumentals like "November", which punctuates its lead from your favorite funeral dirge with fake oboe, and the self-descriptive "Piano Piece" which should more correctly be titled "My Favorite Synth Piano-Patch Piece". Some songs pound ("Sing A Song"; "It's All A Lie" - -hey, Ronny fesses up!!) while others ("Your Vice") sort of float along in synthetic serenity aiming, I suppose, at detached irony. One of the best tracks, though, isn't even on this CD: the instrumental "Flatlands", included as a bonus track on the "Out Of The Rain/Going Round '97" single. Okay then, not a total miss. But personally I miss Anka Wolbert. Oh, and Peter Wooten. Guess I take it a little too seriously, eh.

This exploration of a doomed and destructive relationship owes much to both the Marquise de Sade and Baron von Masoch as Dali narrates the tale of his two main characters' descent into the darkest recesses of emotional dependancy and desire. Many of the elements that inspired Dali's art are here and so this book is a must for any fans of surrealism in general and Dali in particular.