Xmal Deutschland
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| Xmal Deutschland | ||
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 Xmal Deutschland picture by Anton Corbijn - from the original UK Viva LP inner sleeve
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| Background information | ||
| Origin | Hamburg, Germany | |
| Genre(s) | Gothic Rock | |
| Years active | 1980 - 1990 | |
| Label(s) | 4AD Records | |
| Former members | ||
| Anja Huwe Manuela Rickers Fiona Sangster Rita Simon Caro May Wolfgang Ellerbrock Manuela Zwingmann Peter Bellendir |
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Xmal Deutschland was a musical group from Hamburg, Germany. Founded in 1980 as an all-girl band, they became successful outside their native country. Vocalist Anja Huwe was often compared to contemporaries like Siouxsie Sioux (Siouxsie & the Banshees). Xmal Deutschland's last album was released in 1989.
[edit] Biography
Xmal Deutschland (often written as X-Mal Deutschland) was formed in 1980 by Anja Huwe (vocals), Manuela Rickers (guitar), Fiona Sangster (keyboards), Rita Simon (bass guitar) and Caro May (drums) in Hamburg, Germany. Their first single, "Großstadtindianer" was released a year later on Alfred Hilsberg’s ZickZack label. The band also contributed the to the label compilation Lieber Zuviel Als Zuwenig (ZZ 45). Around this time Rita Simon was replaced by Wolfgang Ellerbrock.
In 1982 the band released the Goth classic "Incubus Succubus". Drummer Caro May was replaced by Manuela Zwingmann the same year. While German audiences were less than receptive at first, a United Kingdom tour opening for the Cocteau Twins resulted in a label deal with independent label 4AD Records. Their debut album, Fetisch and the singles "Qual" and "Incubus Succubus II" were released in 1983, all 3 making the UK Independent charts, even though the band used German lyrics.
Manuela Zwingmann left the band after one year, being replaced by Peter Bellendir. This lineup, Huwe/Rickers/Sangster/Ellerbrock/Bellendir proved to be the longest running. 1984 saw the release of the single "Reigen" and the album Tocsin, followed by a world tour through 1985.
The Sequenz EP was essentially a remake of a John Peel session, which had been originally recorded April 30, 1985, and was broadcast May 13, 1985. The EP contained the tracks Jahr Um Jahr II, Autumn (the band’s first English lyrics, apart from brief snatches of English that appeared in Qual, Young Man and Tag fur Tag) and Polarlicht but omitted Der Wind, which was played at the Peel sessions.
1986 saw the release of Matador, produced by Hugh Cornwell of The Stranglers. Xmal Deutschland also opened for The Stranglers at a concert at Wembley Arena in London. Their follow-up album, Viva was recorded in Hamburg and was released in 1987, followed by the single "Sickle Moon". Viva contains a large number of English lyrics, among others a poem by Emily Dickinson.
- Xmal Deutschland - Matador excerpt (file info) — play in browser (beta)
- An excerpt from Matador
- Problems listening to the file? See media help.
After the release of Viva, Manuela Rickers, Fiona Sangster and Peter Bellendir left the group. Anja Huwe and Wolfgang Ellerbrock continue to work with Frank Z. (Abwärts) on guitar. Producer Henry Staroste played keyboards, and German studio drummer Curt Cress completed the line-up that would record the 1989 LP Devils and the singles "Dreamhouse" and "I’ll be near you". This also proved to be the last release of Xmal Deutschland, showing a change of direction towards mainstream pop. 1990 saw a few scattered live appearances by the group, but eventually the group split up.
[edit] Discography
- 7" Großstadtindianer - Zick-Zack Schallplatten ZZ 31
- 12" Incubus Succubus - Zick-Zack Schallplatten ZZ 110
- 12" Qual - 4AD Records BAD 305
- 7" Incubus Succubus II - 4AD Records AD 311
- 12" Incubus Succubus II - 4AD Records BAD 311
- 7" Sequenz - Red Rhino RRE-1
- 12" Sequenz - Red Rhino RRET-1
- 12"/CD The Peel Sessions (30.04.85)- Strange Fruit SFPS017
- 7" Matador - eXile XMAL 107
- 12" Matador - eXile XMAL 112
- 7" Sickle Moon - eXile XMAL 207
Albums:
- 1983 Fetisch
- 1984 Tocsin
- 1987 Viva
- 1989 Devils
