Phoenix (Clan of Xymox album)
Phoenix is the fourth studio album by Dutch dark wave band Xymox, released in 1991 by Wing Records/PolyGram.[1] It was produced by Peter Walsh. Guitarist Michael Brook guested on the tracks "The Shore Down Under and "Mark the Days".
| Phoenix | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1991 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 46:28 | |||
| Label | Wing Records/PolyGram | |||
| Producer | Peter Walsh | |||
| Xymox chronology | ||||
| ||||
The album charted in the United States at No. 163 on the Billboard 200.[2] The single Phoenix of My Heart peaked at No. 16 on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart,[3] as well as reaching No. 16 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart[3][4] and No. 27 on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart.[4]
Reception
The album was perceived as slicker and more pop-minded than Xymox's previous albums.[1] Gavin Report proclaimed the album "a faultless offering of this clan of musicians we call Xymox".[5] Melody Maker said, "They haven't entirely abandoned seamless, panoramic sweeps that characterized their first couple of releases on 4AD, and they still have a firm emotional grip, but now they work in a less gloomy space. Phoenix is full of surprises".[6]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Phoenix of My Heart/Wild Thing outro" | Ronny Moorings, Chip Taylor | 4:11 |
| 2. | "At the End of the Day" | R. Moorings | 3:42 |
| 3. | "The Shore Down Under" | Moorings | 5:15 |
| 4. | "Mark the Days" | Moorings | 6:10 |
| 5. | "Believe Me Sometimes" | Anka Wolbert | 4:54 |
| 6. | "Wonderland" | Pieter Nooten | 4:57 |
| 7. | "Written in the Stars" | Moorings | 5:03 |
| 8. | "Dancing Barefoot" | Patti Smith, Ivan Kral | 3:40 |
| 9. | "Crossing the Water" | Nooten | 3:46 |
| 10. | "Smile Like Heaven" | Wolbert | 4:47 |
Personnel
- Xymox
- Ronny Moorings – vocals, lyrics, guitar, keyboards
- Anka Wolbert – vocals, lyrics, keyboards, bass
- Pieter Nooten – vocals, lyrics, keyboards
- Additional musicians
- Michael Brook – guitar (3, 4)
- Gavyn Wright – concert master (5)
- Nick Ingman – arranger, string arrangements (5)
- Manny Elias – drums, drum programming
- Greg Walsh – keyboards, programming
- Simon Clark – organ, Hammond organ (4)
- Producers, engineers
- Peter Walsh – producer, engineer, mixing (
- Ronny Moorings – producer (2, 9)
- Shaun Cymbalisty – engineer
- Paul Apted – engineer
- Graphic design
- Chris Thompson – package design
- Kevin Davies – photography
Notes
Recorded at Jacobs Studios, Surrey. Mixed at Marcus Studios and Ridge Farm Studio.
References
- Henderson, Alex. Phoenix at AllMusic. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
- "Chart History Phoenix". Billboard. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
- "Chart History Phoenix of my Heart'". Billboard. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
- "Phoenix - Xymox". Retrieved 31 October 2011.
- Atwood, Brett D. (March 1991). "Phoenix, Clan of Xymox". Gavin Report.
- True, Everett (May 1991). "Review Phoenix". Melody Maker.
- "Phoenix Tracklist with Credits". Retrieved 14 December 2011.