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
Sehnsucht
Xmal Deutschland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Durchschnitt mir den Bauch
Wie ein geschoss
Ich mal dein Gesicht
An den schmutzigen Spiegel
Und seh durch die Streifen
Mein dreckiges Bild
Vergesse ich
Niemals, niemals, niemals
Vergesse ich
Niemals, niemals, niemals
Ich danke dir vielmals
Der Schnee ist gegangen
Der alles verdeckte
Ich danke dir vielmals
Meine Sehnsucht ist unaufhaltsam
Wie ein offenes Messer
Wie ein offenes Messer
Und von Zeit zu Zeit
Schneid ich dein Herz dir
Aus dem Körper heraus
Aus dem Körper heraus
The song "Sehnsucht" by Xmal Deutschland is a dark and melancholic expression of longing for someone who has left, with the singer struggling to forget them. The lyrics describe the physical and emotional pain caused by this longing, with the imagery of a bullet piercing their stomach and the subsequent reflection in a dirty mirror. The repetition of "niemals, niemals, niemals" emphasizes the inability to forget this person, and the gratitude expressed towards them could be seen as a form of bitterness or anger at their hold over the singer's emotions.
The second half of the song shifts to a metaphor of snow covering everything, representing the forgetfulness of time, but the singer's longing remains constant and sharp, like an open knife. The final two lines are the most disturbing, as the singer declares that they will cut the person's heart out of their body. This final act of violence could be interpreted as a desire for revenge or a desperate attempt to stop the pain they are feeling.
Line by Line Meaning
Durchschnitt mir den Bauch
My longing cuts through me like a bullet, piercing me in the stomach
Wie ein geschoss
Just like a gunshot - sudden and intense
Ich mal dein Gesicht
I paint your face in my mind
An den schmutzigen Spiegel
As I stand in front of a dirty mirror
Und seh durch die Streifen
I see through the streaks
Mein dreckiges Bild
My own dirty image reflected back at me
Niemals, niemals, niemals
Never, never, never
Vergesse ich
Will I forget
Ich danke dir vielmals
Thank you very much
Der Schnee ist gegangen
The snow has melted away
Der alles verdeckte
That covered everything
Meine Sehnsucht ist unaufhaltsam
My longing is unstoppable
Wie ein offenes Messer
Sharp and cutting like an open knife
Und von Zeit zu Zeit
And from time to time
Schneid ich dein Herz dir
I cut your heart from your body
Aus dem Körper heraus
Ripping it out of your body
Writer(s): Mertz Copyright: GEMA
Contributed by Kennedy B. 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...