Words and photos by Daisy Sherwin
The thought of seeing Anja Huwe of Xmal Deutschland, alongside The Psychedelic Furs, is enough to draw me into Manchester for the very first time. As I traverse the maze that is the Albert Hall, I’m not quite sure what to anticipate, but expectations I didn’t even know I had were majorly exceeded.
As the lights dim in the truly magical concert space of the Albert Hall (deconsecrated as a Church in 1969), you can feel the anticipation roll in like a thick mist. Well, anticipation or hairspray… it could be either from the amount of goths in the room. Xmal Deutschland were pioneers in the original goth scene, making a name for themselves as post-punk icons. With an original all girl line-up, I knew I couldn’t miss their first UK tour since 1987.
It’s as though Anja Huwe casts a spell upon the audience as she sings original Xmal Deutschland hits alongside tracks from her new album Codes. Her voice is hypnotic, and alongside the powerful synthesisers, it feels as though the only thing existing in that moment was the music. Hearing Xmal Deutschland’s most loved song – ‘Incubus Succubus’ – in a deconsecrated church, complete with stained glass windows, looming pillars and a towering organ feels supernatural in itself. Throughout the entire track, I can feel the synthesiser reverberating throughout my bones; and as I watch the band on stage, bathed in red light, I understand religion.
Following what could only be described as a brain-altering performance, The Psychedelic Furs enter stage right. The night couldn’t get much better… surely? Lead vocalist Richard Butler exudes confidence as he sings a medley of the band’s most beloved tracks, including ‘Love My Way’ and ‘Pretty In Pink’. The rest of The Psychedelic Furs sound fantastic, with lead guitarist Rich Good ripping intricate solos more effortlessly than should be humanly possible. The entire crowd are captivated until the very last moment, which concludes a night that a goth could only dream of.
This may have been my first Mancunian gig, but it definitely won’t be my last. Although I doubt anything could top this post-punk fever dream.
