And I was seraching for the truth. So you see, that really lucky coincidence led to be the foundation of Xymox, last ( and first in two years) signing to that hallowed bastion, 4AD. Three days of travelling aroung, a Peel session, early rises and late to beds, and a succession of questioning voyeurs leaves the legacy of a giggling band and a severely retarded handling of English.
Continental (da...rling) bands are, for all means and purposes, divided into two categories. The Euro-Song mish-mash that proliferate, indigenously, occassionally the odd one being allowed to worm it's way into focus, and secondly; the "underground" avant-garde band that, while inherently scoring 9 out of 10 on the credometer, loses out of accessibility/ availability: The 4 that make up Xymox, Ronny- vocals, guitar, keyboards; Anke- bass guitar, keyboards, vocals; Pieter- vocals, keyboards and Frank- guitar, keyboards; these 4, without realising it, have landed in fairly unique position: music that is acceptable to the dicerning UK audience ( and I don't think I'm over lauding the importance of the aforementioned public) without soliciting their waves openly enough to make it (the music) available with only the flick of a switch.
Unfortunately, their live performances tend to glamourise their music. Glamour, as in glitter and popstars, albeit a powerful sound. Popstardom though? Anathema to Xymox.
"That word 'popstar', it's loaded" explains Ronny, "it means sex and drugs and rock'n'roll or something. I don't like false sentiment, we just want people to like our music."
Admirable argument, but a mention of the Cocteaus' fragile position in the limelight elicits a perhaps more honest answer from Pieter:
"Well, yes, that would be a nice position to be in."
"If you are a popstar" enjoins Ronny, "you can do something more. I mean, you can make records whenever you want."
Anke and Pieter seem to find this amusing and revert to Dutch and giggling.
Sure, the very idea of such sombre, at times, and strong music couples with the conception of four "entrangers", leads to the inevitable conclusion that Xymox must be up to something.
"That's what they always keep asking" Pieter bewails, 'what's behind the music', it's not something you should ask someone who makes it, I think you can answer that yourself."
Frank comes out of a brown study to emphasize this:
"There's no heavy message, no. It's a cliche´ maybe, but the music has to say it all. Well, that's why you make music; there is a feeling and you make music and that's enough."
I'm still not convinced that Xymox tunes a churned out in such a frivolous manner, with the lack of thought that they profess.
To wit, their live performances are accompanied by three sections of ( surely carefully planned) film, enriching their exibition to perhaps something more than the norm.
But getting back to that 'nice position to be in'. A debut LP, providently entitled "Subsequent Pleasures" was released in 1983 to a generally derisive reception. No matter. Only 500 were released and those limited to their home market. Listeing to 'Moscoviet Mosquito', our very own taste from the ol' days, perhaps 4AD should break idealistic ranks and repress as "Previous Pleasures".
Escape from the Dutch " garage scene" came after and partly due to, two or three gigs with Dead Can Dance last year, obviosly leading to that 4AD connection. In keeping with those people in a  "nice postion" Xymox sent out only on demo tape with landed by chance, or by post, on a desk in Wandsworth. This presumptious act led to a signing which has the following effect, best left by their own words-
"Well, we are relly pleased, really flatttered especially because we're Dutch. It's kind of an underdog situation."
Remarkably (?), since their returning hero act, the folks at home have taken much more interest in Xymox, first radio airplay and now they can play university halls instead of scout huts.
All of this newfound popularity is taken in their stride and any evidence of hypocracy on the behalf of Dutch music "officialdom" is passed over with the minimum of rancour:
"We do always say "That's the way it is." muses Ron.
"We knew before that it was going to happen" Pieter confides.
"We warned them"
And Frank, ending on a paricularly philpsophical note:
"Everybody's a hypocrite. My father is a hypocrite, my mother is a hypocrite, even the dog is a hypocrite. You know, I even had this goldfish who was a hypocrite."
"I even had a hypocat" he adds as an afterthought.
Xymox, I suspect, despite their refutions, want to be "popstars", and I'm not past believing that one day in the not too distant future you'll open up your copy of the Daily (Big is big business) Sun to find sexy, sulty Anke and her 3 darling bedlamites oozing with scandal, staring you straight in the eye.