X Mal Deutschland - Gift: The 4AD Years

The extraordinary impact Xmal Deutschland had upon British audiences in the early Eighties is difficult to convey forty years on. A spell was cast by the staccato rhythms, unmediated channels and mysterious (to us) language of their music, and by the vision and strength of the women involved. Their first two albums with 4AD dazzled and dug deep, speaking in tones and temperatures unlike any band before or since. “And at some point, it seemed to people we just...disappeared,” muses singer Anja Huwe. “So this myth of Xmal Deutschland just got bigger and bigger over the years…”

Commemorating their ‘4AD years’ (1983-1984), the mysteriously enchanting group returns now with a brand new release entitled Gift: The 4AD Years, a limited-edition 3xLP / 2xCD containing 2025 Abbey Road remasters of their two albums released with the label (Fetisch and Tocsin), as well as tracks off other related releases and EPs including Incubus Succubus II and Qual, creating a package pulsating with power and poise.

Gift’s striking cover artwork — featuring photography by Peter Schulte — was designed by Timothy O’Donnell, based on original art by 23 Envelope. It accompanies original sleeve photography by Nigel Grierson. Rounding out the package is an additional photo booklet containing images by Kevin Cummins, Paul Slattery, Sheila Rock, and more, as well as text by Chris Roberts.