XPQ-21 formed in the late 1980s, taking their name from a Soviet experimental aircraft. The band's core included Faust on vocals, Morgan handling electronics and soundscapes, and Azrael providing rhythm. Their 1989 EP 'A Gothic Novel' gave them their breakthrough track of the same name, which became something of an underground anthem.
Their music worked with darkwave and electro-industrial textures, often leaning into gothic themes. Beyond 'A Gothic Novel,' their catalog included albums like 'Portrait of a Dying Empire' in 1991 and 'The Dance of Shadows' in 1995. Other songs in their repertoire included 'After All,' 'Beautiful,' and 'Greed.'
Faust's vocal delivery and the band's atmospheric electronics created a particular mood that resonated in certain circles. Their work explored darker subject matter, which sometimes drew criticism, but they maintained their approach without much compromise. The music had a cult following rather than widespread commercial reach.
Keep it compact: a lyric you come back to, a live memory, or the part of the catalog you would point someone toward first.
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