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Xmal Germany from Hamburg had released four albums between 1983 and 1989 before they dissolved. In the 80s, the band triggered a huge hype, especially in the British goth scene, with its sound mix of post-punk, Gothic Rock and Dark Wave. The name of the band was a treatise by the communist author Rudolf Leonhard.
“At some point it seemed as if we had just disappeared,” says singer Anja Huwe. And that was a little too. For 30 years there were the first two albums that appeared at the legendary Label 4ad no longer got vinyl. Now “fetish” and “Tocsin” and some EP tracks appear as part of a 3XLP set under the title “Gift”.
The sound of Xmal Germany was characterized by a dark, cold atmosphere. Typical were the staccato -like, marching drums, which had a strict, almost machine character. In addition, there was a striking bass that often took the lead melodically and created an ominous mood.
Anja Huwe sang in a cutting voice, who alternated between pressing speaking and livelihood. In this context, the way she sang seemed almost strange and threatening.
Xmal Germany could not get to the point
The debut was arrived somewhere between Bauhaus, The Birthday Party and Joy Division. Of course, it was called it post-punk, but as singer Huwe noted, the punkers found too little punk in it and avant-garde musicians found too little avant-garde.
The expressive and puzzling of the beautiful music with its very abysmal texts was worked out even more consciously on “Tocsin”. Before the record appeared in 1984, Manuela Zwingmann left the band. It was replaced by Peter Bellendir’s drums. Xmal Germany was praised by John Peel and became regular guests in the London Goth Club The Batcave.
“In the beginning nobody took us seriously – we were just ‘these girls’,” recalls Anja Huwe. “Today it is overwhelming from so many to hear that we have inspired you to found a band or be creative. I like that. This strength that our friendship had and our charisma: we were strong. And we had ideas that we wanted to bring over … We were unstoppable for a long time.”
After their 4AD phase, Xmal Germany with “Viva” and “Devils” record two more records before they finally dissolved. After a 35-year break, Anja Huwe sailed with the solo album “Codes” last year and has been on stages again since then. With the one published on May 9th 3XLP “Gift: The 4ad Years” Is now also intensively reminded of the remarkable high phase of her band, which once traveled with the Cocteau Twins through UK and played with the Stranglers in the Wembley Stadium.
“Poison: The 4ad Years”: Tracklist
fetish
- A1. Torment
- A2. Secret
- A3. Young Man
- A4. At night
- A5. Orient
- B1. Hand in hand
- B2. Battle
- B3. Danthem
- B4. boomerang
- B5. Silent child
Tocsin
- C1. Moonlight
- C2. Island
- C3. Round
- C4. day after day
- D1. Moment
- D2. Cooked my heart
- D3. Nightshade
- D4. Xmas in Australia
- D5. Dervish
Incubus Succubus II EP
- E1. Incubus Succubus II
- E2. Vito
Qual
- F1. Quality – 12 ”remix
- F2. Time
- F3. Longing