Pioneers of goth Xmal Deutschland have announced a reissue of their album ‘Early Singles’ on Sacred Bones, as well as the debut solo album from Xmal Deutschland’s inimitable frontwoman Anja Huwe, ‘Codes’. Both records are set for release side-by-side on March 8th, 2024.
Xmal Deutschland are now marked as forerunners of the post-punk movement and ‘Early Singles (1981-1982)’ is a map of their foundational movements, just seconds before takeoff. This reissue includes two bonus tracks; ‘Kaelbermarsch’ (originally from the compilation Lieber Zuviel Als Zuwenig) and a gritty live version of ‘Allein’ (originally from the compilation Nosferatu Festival).
There’s also a wonderful video montage of footage from this era of the band’s career.
Alongside the reissue comes the debut solo release from Xmal Deutschland’s incomparable frontwoman, Anja Huwe. 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. Together, they worked for a year and a half, composing, performing and producing the tracks from scratch which eventually became the album Codes.
Integral to the overall sound experience was the input of Manuela Rickers who added her famed signature guitar style. The collaboration was relentless:
“Mona and I have a similar artistic background since the 1980s. We hung out together, and we sport a similar attitude towards life and art. We don’t have to explain ourselves to one another.”
Anja Huwe
“Anja’s voice is like a spear, her appearance a torch in the darkness.”
Mona Mur
Along with the album announcement today, she shares “Rabenschwarz”, a frenzied song, which, with Rickers’ hypnotic apocalyptic guitars, Mur’s agitated and distinctive electronic sounds and beats, forged together with Huwe’s unmistakably energetic and expressive vocals, hits you in the face. A captivating combination.
https://anjahuwe.com/
https://www.instagram.com/huweanja/
https://sacredbones.com/