SIGLO XX hail from Genk, a depressed industrial city in Belgium. After the closing of the coal pits, Genk has now a painful present of unemployment, poverty, drug abuse and violence.
In that context, there's nothing unusual in a "rock" group stamping their sound with a hard, dark, but also very personal and emotional philosophy. Their formative years were the years of Punk. And perhaps there you'll find a cause for their headstrong tenacity of doing it in their own way. SIGLO XX refuse to produce music that shys away from looking reality straight in the eye. They've succeeded in imbuing their art with a touch of impressionism that's sadly lacking in a world preferring to whistle only unaffected melodies.
SIGLO XX have remained passionate and fascinated, following their own chosen way without losing sleep over fashion or trends. Constantly evolving, the group attracts a growing number of commited fans all over Europe.
In 1980 Siglo XX independantly released their first 7'' single ‘The Naked and the Death’. Things really got rolling two years later with the maxi-single ‘The Art of War’, still a classic and for instance included on a ‘New Wave Club Class.X’ volume. Later they signed to Antler Records which released a few of their albums and maxi’s.
Their sound resembled Factory bands like Joy Division and Section 25: cold new wave, with dark basses, moody synths and depressive vocals. Siglo XX sounded probably even rawer than their more famous examples, with sometimes punky guitars.
In the mid 80’s a move to Play it Again Sam followed, where three albums came out. The last was ‘Under A Purple Sky’ in 1989.
DISCOGRAPHY
- THE NAKED AND THE DEATH 7" (1980)
The Naked And The Death
Lines Of Hope
Individuality
-STRAATLAWAAIPRODUCTIES (TAPE, 1981)
Whispers - Fall - Obsession - Future - Factory -
Calculated Mistakes - Good News - Progress - Caraïbean Nightmares
-THE ART OF WAR 12" (1982)
The Art Of War
La Vie Dans La Nuit
Youth Sentiment
Autumn
-SIGLO XX 12" (1983)
Answer
After The Dream
The Room
Until A Day
Endless Corridor
Dreams Of Pleasure
-DREAMS OF PLEASURE 12" (1983)
Dreams Of Pleasure
In The Garden
Silent House
-IN THE GARDEN 7" (1984)
In The Garden
Silent House
-SIGLO XX 2xLP (1984)
Disc One: Some Have A Laughter - Guild And Desire - Moving Creatures - Babies On A Battlefield - The Fiddle
Disc Two: Fools - Obsession - Whispers - Room - Birds - Into The Dark - Progress - The Beginning - The Art Of War
-SIGLO XX MLP (1984)
Some Have A Laughter
Guild And Desire
Moving Creatures
Babies On A Battlefield
The Fiddle
-LIVE SIDES LP (1984)
Fools
Obsession
Whispers
Room
Birds
Into The Dark
Progress
The Beginning
The Art Of War
-RE-RELEASED 1980-1982 LP (1984)
The Naked And The Death
Art Of War
Lines Of Hope
Youth Sentiment
Obsession - Factory
La Vie Dans La Nuit
Individuality
Autumn
Caraibian Nightmare
The Fall
-IT'S ALL OVER NOW 12" (1986)
It's All Over Now
Fear
Babies On A Battlefield
Death Row
-TILL THE END OF THE NIGHT 12" (1987)
The End Of The Night
Deadman's Cave
The Beginning
-FLOWERS FOR THE REBELS LP/CD (1987)
Sister In The Rain - Fear - No One Is Innocent - Afraid To Tell - Sister Suicide - Till The Act Is Done - Shadows - Flesh And Blood - Ride
Only on Cd : The End Of The Night - Deadman's Cave - The Beginning
-VIEW OF THE WEIRD 12" (1987)
View Of The Weird
Silent Crowd
-ANTLER TRACKS I CD (1987)
Answer
After The Dream
The Room
Until A Day
Endless Corridor
Dreams Of Pleasure
Some Have A Laughter
Guilt And Desire
Moving Creatures
Babies On A Battlefield
The Fiddle
It's All Over Now
Fear
Babies On A Battlefield
Death-row
-ANTLER TRACKS II CD (1987)
The Naked And The Death
Lines Of Hope
Individuality
Obsession
Factory
Caraibean Nightmares
Art Of War
La Vie Dans La Nuit
Youth Sentiment
Autumn
Dreams Of Pleasure
In The Garden
Silent House
Room
Into The Dark
Progress
Beginning
Art Of War
-FEAR AND DESIRE LP/CD (1988)
Fear And Desire
Everything Is On Fire
Lost In Violence
Sorrow And Pain
35 Poems
On The Third Day
My Sister Called Silence
The Pain Came
-SUMMERS DIE 12"/CDs (1989)
Summers Die
Waiting For A Friend
-UNDER A PURPLE SKY LP/CD (1989)
Baby Divine
When Will It Be Me
I Send You My Tears
Untouchable Flame
Body Meets Body
Alice
Vanity Lane
City In Dust
-1980-1986 CD (2006)
The Naked And The Death - Individuality - Obsession - La Vie Dans La Nuit
Autumn - Until A Day - Endless Corridor - Dreams Of Pleasure - In The Garden - Silent House - Some Have A Laughter - Guilt And Desire - Babies On A Battlefield – It's All Over Now - Room (Live) - Beginning (Live) - Art Of War (Live)
