Xabec - From the Archives 1999-2009 (2018)

It is with joy that we can announce the return of Xabec, one of the most idiosyncratic artists on the HANDS roster. “From the Archives 1999-2009” is much more than a mere collection of tracks; it features unreleased live recordings and rare material that has never been available on CD before. All recordings have been carefully remastered, partially restored on the basis of live versions, as some original files were lost during a hard drive crash in 2004. The result is a journey through the arguably most experimental facets of Xabec’s art and its development over a decade.

Ten years, ten tracks – one each culled from the 4 vinyl singles Xabec released over the years, two unreleased versions, three live cuts and one compilation tracks. The album covers the evolution from the first, very minimal compositions to the more flamboyant arrangements from the late 2000s on, when Manuel G. Richter’s sound became more melodic. The result is a very coherent revelation of a thoroughly unique musical handwriting, a hands-on approach of sound design and exploration, with results ranging from simply beautiful to sophisticated.

It is obvious that Xabec has always been a very personal artistic project, deeply related to the person behind it. Also the decisions to call it quits in 2013 with the “Closing The Circle” album and to reappear in 2018 were carefully pondered. “From The Archives 1999-2009” takes a look back, but also serves as a hint for future possibilities.