After two extensive tours through Europe and 4 Albums finally released in Europe by the end of the 90s, Oxbow, and their German label Crippled Dick Hot Wax, discussed thoughts on extending the audience for the indie noise rock giants and do something largely popular in the pop world that seemed vastly unusual, however, for a band in the alternative music world: a remix album. Those plans were even publicly stated on Singer Eugene Robinson's own TV show on German Viva TV, yet never realised. But Oxbow had already done a first step to actually make it happen. They handed their long time European sound engineer Manuel Liebeskind and producer and former label mate Alex Buess (with 16-17 on Kevin Martin's pathological label) the full Steve Albini recorded multitracks of their album Serenade in Red.
Instead of just remixing an existing song, Liebeskind and Buess, now under the name of PxfXFn5, composed 2 completely new tracks. Using loops and sounds from the original Oxbow recordings, and samples from live recorded cassette tapes, they created something that still is Oxbow - and not.
2 Tracks that transport the heavy blues and noise inspired unique sound of Oxbow into electronic soundscapes and beats. They open a totally different approach to Oxbow music, and to what remix, or re-composition, could mean. In 2024 these tracks have been revisited and remastered by Alex Buess who brought the tracks to the life they deserve.
While Oxbow singer Eugene S. Robinson can also be heard with Buess on 16-17's last studio album Phantom limb (Trost records, TR193), he now also is half of electronic Duo Mangene with Manuel Liebeskind, that has recently released their first album '101 Atomic Terms and what they Mean' on fellow label A tree in a Field Records.
Oxbow are
Eugene S. Robinson - Vocals
Niko Wenner - Guitar
Dan Adams - Bass
Greg Davis - Drums
PxfXFn5 are
Alex Buess and Manuel Liebeskind
credits
released February 28, 2025
Original recordings by Steve Albini
Mixed by Alex Buess and Manuel Liebeskind at WWolf 281
Mastered by Alex Buess
Graphic Design by Karin Blaser and Roger Big Rogers Graf
Editors
Manuel Liebeskind and Greg Davis
