The name may well suggest the very bleakest of gothic bands and, in all honesty, Clan Of Xymox didn't deviate too much from this style in their early years. But the six tracks culled from two John Peel Sessions demonstrate a marked progression in musicianship in a 5 month gap stretching from June to November 1985. The 3 early tracks hark back to Modern English's largely tuneless menace with lots of drum machine backing; passable enough but nothing to get too excited about. Then came the transition to more considered, brooding masterpieces which - along with the similarly 'out there' gothic mystery of Breathless - proved that they were more than just an average 4AD band. 'After The Call' is quite superb, the vocals are clear and resonant; conveying emotion over the glacial soundscapes. Meanwhile, 'Agonised By Love' replaces the somewhat robotic stylings of their early work with a much needed sense of urgency and intensity.