Located in the heart of Hillcrest in Little Rock, AR
Address
2612 Kavanaugh Blvd Suite B Little Rock, AR 72205
Hours
Monday
Closed
Tuesday - Saturday
11 AM to 6 PM
Sunday
12 PM to 5 PM
"Gothics" - a time before the word goth had even taken shape - believed in the do-it-yourself punk ethos that anyone could pick up an instrument. Gray clouds were starting to form and in the unlikely city of Hamburg, a brazen and haunting gang of five women formed Xmal Deutschland. As any true punk would, Xmal Deutschland's members Caro May, Rita Simon, Manuela Rickers, Fiona Sangster and Anja Huwe, started the band despite any previous musical experi- ence.The "Schwarze Welt" seven-inch was released on the local punk label, ZickZack, in 1981 and introduced the band as an unsettling swarm of intensity. There's an urgency in it's repetitive dirge, a swirling mania that persists on the b-side with "Die Wolken" and "Großstadtindianer" whose crude synthesizer noises escalate in tension. Most of all, Huwe's uniquely venomous German vocals quickly became embedded in the unbridled and burgeoning scene of glamorous gloom. Punk's independence from the stiff grip of tradition allowed the band to find solace in anti-establishment art and music, far from the conventions of the past. With their peacocked hair and thick kohl-lined eyes, Xmal Deutschland's music retained both a restlessness and delicacy, transcending any confines of the "Neue Deutsche Welle" movement (much like their colleagues and friends DAF and Einstürzende Neubauten) with the release of the "Incubus Succubus" single in 1982. It instantly became a post-punk classic. The guitar's buzz ransacks through the melody as the ghoulish primitiveness of Huwe's voice teases that maybe, just maybe, she is the nightmarish creature of which to be aware. The b-sides, "Zu Jung Zu Alt" and "Blut Ist Liebe," keep strict militaristic dance beats as they teem in agitation. That same year, the band performed in London as support for the Cocteau Twins; it was the platform they needed to ricochet into the arms of the ripped fishnet masses. Early Singles (1981-1982), is a map of the foundational move- ments of Xmal Deutschland, just seconds before takeoff. Bonus tracks on the compilation, "Kaellbermarsch" and a gritty live version of "Allein," further accentuate their fusion of toughness with the quixotic decadence of atmospheric synthesizers. The band's pursuit of something greater is palpable with this release, a reflection of a time that introduced accessibility to new means of making music following the onset of punk.
Independent record store located in the historic Hillcrest neighborhood of Little Rock, Arkansas
Located in the heart of Hillcrest in Little Rock, AR
Hours
Monday
Closed
Tuesday - Saturday
11 AM to 6 PM
Sunday
12 PM to 5 PM
For special requests or questions, email us at: hello@controllittlerock.com
For Returns on new vinyl purchased in the store or online - we only accept returns for products we determine to be defective or severely damaged, and only if we are notified of the issue with 5 days of you receiving the record. Once you’ve made us aware of the issue we might ask for photo or video proof (if purchased online) and we will determine if the product is returnable. We will then work with you to arrange for return shipping and/or replacement of your item.
Vinyl is an inherently a flawed medium so a slight wave in the record that does not affect play, or some surface noise is just part of this fun fun world we all love. Also, if you have a $40 record player and the record is skipping please know there’s a 99% chance the problem is the record player not the brand new record. “the suitcase” style all in one players are a fantastic way to find out if you love the idea of records as much as we do, but they can’t handle the weight of many modern records and they tend to skip on newer pressings. Minor corner dings/plastic rip are also part of this world and do not quality for a return/replacement. If the damage is severe please contact us and we can work with you.
If your return is brand new unopened product in the same condition as purchased it can be returned for store credit. If you purchased online you can pay to have it shipped back we can give you store credit.