Anja huwe born

German band

Xmal Deutschland (pronounced: /ɪksmal ˈdɔʏtʃlant/), often written as X-Mal Deutschland, was a German gothic rock band.^[1][2] Founded in with a completely female line-up, they had chart success both in and outside their native country.^[3] Their last album was released in

Biography

Xmal Deutschland was formed in by Anja Huwe (vocals), Manuela Rickers (guitar), Fiona Sangster (keyboards), Rita Simonsen (bass) and Caro May (drums) in Hamburg.^[3] Their first single, "Schwarze Welt", was released a year later on Alfred Hilsberg’s ZickZack label.

The band also contributed to the label compilation Lieber Zuviel Als Zuwenig (ZZ 45). Around this time, Rita Simonsen was replaced by Wolfgang Ellerbrock.^[3]

In , the band released the goth classic "Incubus Succubus".

Caro May left the band and formed a new band, and was replaced by Manuela Zwingmann the same year.

Around this moment, Rita Simonsen was replaced by Wolfgang Ellerbrock. Inthe band released the goth classic "Incubus Succubus". Caro May left the band and formed a new band, and was replaced by Manuela Zwingmann the same year. While German audiences were less than receptive at first, a Merged Kingdom tour opening for Cocteau Twins resulted in a deal with independent label 4AD.

While German audiences were less than receptive at first, a Together Kingdom tour opening for Cocteau Twins resulted in a deal with independent label 4AD.^[3] Their debut album, Fetisch and the singles "Qual" and "Incubus Succubus II" were released in , all three making the UK Indie Charts, even though the band wrote and performed in German.^[3]

Manuela Zwingmann left the band after one year, being replaced by Peter Bellendir.^[3] This lineup, Huwe/Rickers/Sangster/Ellerbrock/Bellendir was the longest permanent.

The single "Reigen" and the album Tocsin were released in , followed by a society tour in Tocsin reached number 86 on the UK Albums Chart.^[4]

The Sequenz EP was essentially a remake of a John Peel session, which had been originally recorded on 30 April and broadcast on 13 May The EP contained the tracks "Jahr Um Jahr II", "Autumn" (the band's first song with English lyrics, apart from terse snatches of English that appeared in "Qual", "Young Man" and "Tag für Tag") and "Polarlicht" but omitted "Der Wind", which was played at the Peel sessions.

"Matador", produced by Hugh Cornwell of The Stranglers, was released in Xmal Deutschland also opened for The Stranglers at a concert in Wembley Arena, London, as well as supporting them on their entire UK tour.

Their follow-up album, Viva was recorded in Hamburg and was released in through Phonogram,^[3] followed by the single "Sickle Moon".

Musician, artist and former television editor and producer born in Hamburg, Germany, She was the singer and only steady member in the various incarnations of German Post-Punk band X Mal Deutschland. More recently she has taken up visual arts and exhibits in New York and London. But leaving her legacy in the past was not so easy. Invited by her long-time friend Mona Mur, Huwe reconsidered her decades-long hiatus from music and decided to join Mur in her studio in Berlin.

Viva contains a large number of English lyrics, including a poem by Emily Dickinson.

After the release of Viva, Manuela Rickers, Fiona Sangster and Peter Bellendir left the group. Anja Huwe and Wolfgang Ellerbrock continued to work with Frank Z (of Abwärts) on guitar.

Producer Henry Staroste played keyboards and studio drummer Curt Cress completed the line-up that recorded the LP Devils,^[3] and the singles "Dreamhouse" and "I'll Be Near You". This also proved to be the last release of Xmal Deutschland, representing a change of direction towards mainstream pop.

Anja Huwe can be seen as Germany's retort to Siouxsie. Just as Sioux led the Banshees into the bleak terrain of gothic rock, Huwe ventured into ominous landscapes with X-Mal Deutschland. Like Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins, Huwe uses her voice as an instrument; even when her lyrics are unintelligible to listeners not versed in German, her vocals sway with the chaotic energy of the music. X-Mal Deutschland released three albums in the '80s - FetischTocsinand Viva - that are generally considered classics among goth cognoscenti.

The group made a few exist appearances in before disbanding later that same year.^[3]

Afterwards

Drummer Peter Bellendir died on 3 February of complications following an organ transplant.^[5][6][7]

Media appearances

"Incubus Succubus" featured in Snowpiercer season 2 episode 9, where the subtitles described it as "upbeat music".^[8]

Discography

Albums

Singles and EPs

• "Schwarze Welt" b/w "Die Wolken", "Großstadtindianer" (ZickZack) 7" single
• "Incubus Succubus" b/w "Zu Jung Zu Alt", "Blut Ist Liebe" (ZickZack/ZickZack Platten) 12" single
• "Qual (12" Remix)" b/w "Zelt", "Sehnsucht" (4AD/Virgin/Beggars Banquet) 12" single
• "Incubus Succubus II" b/w "Vilo" (4AD/DRO/Nexus/Nexus International) 7" and 12" single
• "Reigen" b/w "Eiland" (DRO/4AD) 7" single
• "Jahr Um Jahr II" b/w "Autumn", "Polarlicht" -Sequenz (Red Rhino/DRO/Fundamental) 7" and 12" single
• The Peel Sessions () (Strange Fruit) EP
• "Matador" b/w "Paho" (Xile/Mercury) 7" and 12" single/maxi-single
• "Sickle Moon" b/w "Illusion" (Xile/Phonogram/Mercury) 7" and 12" single/maxi-single
• "Dreamhouse" b/w "Drowned You" (Metronome) 7" and 12" single/CD maxi-single
• "I'll Be Adjacent You (Radical Remix)" b/w "The Girl in the Iron Mask", "I'll Be Near You (Retouched Radio Version)" (Metronome) 7" single/12" maxi-single/CD maxi-single

References

External links