Devils

The legendary all-female German Post-Punk band Xmal Deutschland was formed in 1980 by Anja Huwe (vocals), Manuela Rickers (guitar), Fiona Sangster (keyboards), Rita Simonsen (bass) and Caro May (drums) in Hamburg.

Their first single, "Schwarze Welt" (“Black World”), was released a year later on Alfred Hilsberg’s infamous ZickZack label and paved the way for the band’s upcoming success, both in their homeland as well as above all in the UK where they were signed to cult label 4AD (Cocteau Twins, Bauhaus, Dead Can Dance, Clan Of Xymox etc.).

After the release of their third album, Manuela Rickers, Fiona Sangster and Peter Bellendir left the group while Anja Huwe and Wolfgang Ellerbrock continued to work with Frank Z (of German proto punk stalwarts Abwaerts) on guitar. Producer Henry Staroste (Warlock, Doro, Ina Deter etc.) played keyboards and studio drummer Curt Cress completed the line-up that recorded the 1989 LP „Devils“ as well as the accompanying singles "Dreamhouse" and "I'll Be Near You". This also proved to be the last release ever of Xmal Deutschland, showing a change of direction towards mainstream pop.

Throughout the following decades “Devils” turned into a late-blooming critical darling which now sees the light of day, for the first time ever, as a strictly limited 2LP in red vinyl, incl. the original full-length LP plus bonus tracks taken from the aforementioned, rare “Dreamhouse”- and “I’ll Be Near You” 12’’ maxis.

Tracklist:

A1 I'll Be Near You

A2 Searchlights

A3 You Broke My Heart

A4 Sleepwalker

A5 When Devils Come

B1 Heavens And Seas

B2 Dreamhouse

B3 I Push It Harder

B4 All In My Hands

C1 Dreamhouse Theme (Do-The-Hitch-Hike-Mix / Extended)

C2 Dreamhouse Theme

C3 Drowned You

C4 Dreamhouse Theme (Do-The-Hitch-Hike-Mix / Radioadded)

D1 I'll Be Near You (Radical Remix)

D2 The Girl In The Iron Mask

D3 I'll Be Near You (Retouched Radio Version)