In 1982 the band released the Goth classic "Incubus Succubus". Drummer Caro May left the band and formed a new band, and the vacant drummer position was filled by Manuela Zwingmann the same year. While German audiences were less than receptive at first, a United Kingdom tour opening for the Cocteau Twins resulted in a label deal with independent label 4AD Records. Their debut album, Fetisch and the singles "Qual" and "Incubus Succubus II" were released in 1983, all 3 making the UK Independent charts, even though the band wrote and performed in German.
Manuela Zwingmann left the band after one year, being replaced by Peter Bellendir. This lineup, Huwe/Rickers/Sangster/Ellerbrock/Bellendir proved to be the longest running. 1984 saw the release of the single "Reigen" and the album Tocsin, followed by a world tour through 1985.
The Sequenz EP was essentially a remake of a John Peel session, which had been originally recorded April 30, 1985, and was broadcast May 13, 1985. The EP contained the tracks Jahr Um Jahr II, Autumn (the band’s first English lyrics, apart from brief 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.
1986 saw the release of Matador, produced by Hugh Cornwell of The Stranglers. Xmal Deutschland also opened for The Stranglers at a concert at Wembley Arena in London. Their follow-up album, Viva was recorded in Hamburg and was released in 1987, followed by the single "Sickle Moon". Viva contains a large number of English lyrics, among others a poem by Emily Dickinson. It was during this time that the band were interviewed by Jamie Meakes for the infamous underground Goth Fanzine 'House Of Dolls'.
After the release of Viva, Manuela Rickers, Fiona Sangster and Peter Bellendir left the group. Anja Huwe and Wolfgang Ellerbrock continue to work with Frank Z. (Abwärts) on guitar. Producer Henry Staroste played keyboards, and German studio drummer Curt Cress completed the line-up that would record the 1989 LP Devils and the singles "Dreamhouse" and "I’ll be near you". This also proved to be the last release of Xmal Deutschland, showing a change of direction towards mainstream pop. 1990 saw a few scattered live appearances by the group, but eventually the group split up.
Discography
EP:s and singles:
1981 7" Großstadtindianer - Zick-Zack Schallplatten ZZ 31
1982 12" Incubus Succubus - Zick-Zack Schallplatten ZZ 110
1983 12" Qual - 4AD Records BAD 305
1983 7" Incubus Succubus II - 4AD Records AD 311
1983 12" Incubus Succubus II - 4AD Records BAD 311
1985 7" Sequenz - Red Rhino RRE-1
1985 12" Sequenz - Red Rhino RRET-1
1986 12"/CD The Peel Sessions (30.04.85)- Strange Fruit SFPS017
1986 7" Matador - eXile XMAL 107
1986 12" Matador - eXile XMAL 112
1987 7" Sickle Moon - eXile XMAL 207
1987 12" Sickle Moon -eXile XMAL 212
1989 12" Dreamhouse - Metronome 871543-1
1989 12" I'll be near you - Metronome 889709-1
Albums:
1983 Fetisch
1984 Tocsin
1987 Viva
1989 Devils
Nachtschatten
Xmal Deutschland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Close your eyes
Close your eyes
Und rette deinen Traum
Rette deinen Traum
Save your dream
Hide your dream
Bis der Morgen taut
Bis der Morgen taut
Die Dunkelheit und ihre Schatten
Geschöpfe der Nacht wachen über dich
Lautlose Schatten erbaut
Um dich herum
Lautlos
Vergiss die Welt
Schließ' die Augen
Close your eyes
Close your eyes
Schließ' die Augen
Schließ' die Augen
Trauere nicht
Trauere nicht
Die Dunkelheit und ihre Schatten
Wesen der Nacht wachen über dich
Lautlose Schatten erbaut
Lautlos
Lautlos
Vergiss die Welt
Morgen wird alles anders sein
Wird alles anders sein, muss alles anders sein
The song "Nachtschatten" by Xmal Deutschland is a hauntingly beautiful track that conveys a sense of solace in the dark of night. The lyrics are sung in German and translate to "close your eyes and save your dream" and "forget the world" as the darkness and shadows of the night quietly watch over you. This can be interpreted as an invitation to find peace and safety within oneself, to shut out the worries and noise of the world, and to embrace the tranquility of sleep and dreams.
The repetition of "Close your eyes" emphasizes the importance of shutting out external distractions and turning inward. The lyrics suggest that the darkness of the night and its silent shadows are there to protect and guard our innermost thoughts and dreams. By closing our eyes and embracing the peace of the night, we can find renewal and perhaps even a sense of rebirth, as the final line suggests that "tomorrow will be different, it must be different."
Overall, "Nachtschatten" is a song that invites the listener to find comfort and peace within themselves, to take refuge in the night and its shadows, and to look forward to a new and better tomorrow.
Line by Line Meaning
Schließ' die Augen
Close your eyes
Und rette deinen Traum
Save your dream, Hide your dream
Bis der Morgen taut
Close your eyes until the morning thaws
Die Dunkelheit und ihre Schatten
The darkness and its shadows
Geschöpfe der Nacht wachen über dich
Creatures of the night watch over you
Lautlose Schatten erbaut
Silent shadows constructed
Um dich herum
Around you
Lautlos
Silent
Vergiss die Welt
Forget the world
Trauere nicht
Do not grieve
Morgen wird alles anders sein
Tomorrow everything will be different
Wird alles anders sein, muss alles anders sein
Everything will be different, must be different
Contributed by Emma J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Oliwia Chrapczyńska
Where is ,,Jahr um Jahr''? I can't find lyrics.
Oliwia Chrapczyńska
Du bist allein, du bist allein
Wie die Nacht ist dunkel
Kein Stern am Himmel
Nur die weißen Augen folgen deinem Herzschlag
Der Weg ist endlos...
Du bist allein, du bist allein
Wie die Nacht ist dunkel
Kein Stern am Himmel
Nur die weißen Augen folgen deinem Herzschlag
Der Weg ist endlos, endlos, endlos, endlos
Deine weiße Haut leuchtet wie Porzellan
Du bist schwarz wie die Nacht allein...
Deine weiße Haut leuchtet wie Porzellan
Du bist schwarz wie die Nacht allein...
Du findest kein Licht, es gibt keine Sonne
Die Erde...
Kommen nie hoch so wie das Himmelslicht
Du bist allein, allein, allein, allein, allein, allein...
Nur die weißen Augen folgen deinem Herzschlag
Sie zeigen ihre Krallen. Sie reißen dich hinunter
Du fällst, du fällst, du fällst, du fällst, du fällst, du fällst...
Dein Weg ist am Ende...
Dein Weg ist am Ende...