Legendary goth punk band Xmal Deutschland always had a sense of mystery about them. Maybe the the fact that it was hard, in the pre-internet days, to learn more about the band added to their allure? Or maybe the difficulty in finding the releases is what did it back in the Eighties? I heard about this band because guitarist Manuela Rickers was featured prominently on the first This Mortal Coil album. After that, I was rabid. Seeking out anything on the 4AD imprint.
The early Xmal Deutschland stuff is abrasive, less concerned with goth trappings than noise and riffage. There were always similarities in sound between the band and Siouxsie and the Banshees, but this new compilation reaffirms the qualities that were unique about Xmal Deutschland and their music. Early Singles (1981 - 1982) collects the first burst of creativity from this band, and the cuts here positively churn with energy. "Grossstadtindianer" bounces with manic glee, while an early run at the group's familiar "Incubus Succubus" is darkly wonderful. The cut is, like many here, propulsive, a battle between guitar hooks and rhythm playing out behind vocalist Anja Huwe's impassioned vocals. "Allein" takes that template even further, making the whole chaotic vibe almost a dance-able one. Fans of the band's first two 4AD releases would be well advised to seek this set out immediately.
Working with her friend Mona Mur, vocalist Anja Huwe prepped her first solo album. Codes benefits as well from input from Xmal Deutschland partner Manuela Rickers. The selections here are sleeker than anything her old band served us, but no less compelling. "Exit" is haunting, beat holding things down behind vocals and flashes of guitar noise, while "Pariah" centers itself around Huwe's voice and a memorable guitar hook. Breakbeats and synths give "Sleep with One Eye Open" a vibe unlike some of the stuff that Anja's best known for, and there's almost a warmth in the vocals that will likely surprise fans, even as the John Carpenter-esque keyboards give this a creepy vibe. Codes is a smart showcase for Anja Huwe as a solo artist as her voice is the star of this show, with a nearly minimalist approach to instrumentation making sure she's not overshadowed by any player here.
Early Singles (1981 - 1982) by Xmal Deutschland and Codes by Anja Huwe are out this week from Sacred Bones Records.
[Photo: Xmal Deutschland by Ilse Ruppert]