XIU XIU Releases Xiu Mutha Fuckin' Xiu: Vol. 1 (Deluxe Edition) - Covers Compilation + 4 Bonus Tracks

Today Xiu Xiu shares a Deluxe Edition of the delightfully wide-ranging collection of a series of covers that had previously only been available through subscription, titled Xiu Mutha Fuckin' Xiu: Vol. 1 now with 4 new bonus tracks - featuring new covers of songs by Roxy Music ["In Every Dream Home a Heartache"], Boy Harsher ["Pain"], Rowland S. Howard ["Breakdown and Then"], and Dolly Parton ["Jolene"].

The original edition of Xiu Mutha Fuckin' Xiu: Vol. 1 was named one of Pitchfork’s most anticipated releases of 2026, with pre-release singles including a raw, devastating cover of “Dancing on My Own,” the beloved track originally by Robyn“, along with Cherry Bomb” originally by The Runaways with the b-side “Some Things Last a Long Time” originally by Daniel Johnston, released in December, drawing acclaim from Stereogum who said: “Xiu Xiu are people of taste. This is obvious based on their decades of brilliant, provocative musical output, but also based on their selection of covers.”

According to Jamie Stewart:

“We have a long history of doing covers and have done 3 albums of covers. The enduring and basic throughline with all of them is an attempt to say thank you to those songs. They are all in one way or another pieces of music that have moved us and exploring them in a deep way is a small honorific offering to the muse that created them. We never approach them thinking ‘How can we improve these’ but really “What can we learn from these?’”

The most thrilling and frightening aspects of dreams (or nightmares) are those we recognize. Familiar elements clash and rearrange into something unfamiliar. Things we thought we understood are flipped or torn apart and stitched back together in reverse.

This unsettling excitement — the jolt of recognition followed by confusion — is at the heart of Xiu Mutha Fuckin' Xiu: Vol. 1, the newest collection of covers from the prolific musical provocateurs Xiu Xiu. Jamie Stewart, Angela Seo, and David Kendrick twist and distort classics from various decades and genres — from 1950s rock n’ roll to new wave, Robyn to Throbbing Gristle.

Xiu Xiu are well-versed in interpretation. Since their formation in 2002, they have consistently paid tribute to artists they admire — from New Order’s “Ceremony” (featured on the Chapel Of Chimes EP) to David Bowie and Queen’s “Under Pressure” (for 2008’s Women As Lovers).

They have created tribute albums — 2013’s Nina, honoring Nina Simone, and 2016’s Xiu Xiu Plays the Music of Twin Peaks — solidifying their reputation for thoughtful reinterpretations. Xiu Mutha Fuckin' Xiu: Vol. 1 compiles twelve tracks of monthly covers the band began releasing in 2020 through their subscription series via Bandcamp, expanding their intriguing universe to connect with artists across time.

Some covers present a shadowed version of the original, focusing on the song’s distinct atmosphere. The Runaways’ “Cherry Bomb” channels its rebellious spirit through industrial beats and slithering percussion — a ticking bomb of corrosive distortion and defiance. Their rendition of Talking Heads’ “Psycho Killer” is reimagined with wailing ‘60s organs, flute spirals, and reverbed vocals. It feels older than the original, as if Question Mark & The Mysterians or 13th Floor Elevators have joined the dialogue. Other reinterpretations like Robyn’s “Dancing on My Own” or GloRilla’s “Lick Or Sum” reveal new insights into contemporary hits.

Certain tracks posed unexpected challenges. “In Dreams” tested the limits of Stewart's vocal abilities; Coil’s “Triple Sun” gave them the chance to explore a band they are often compared to; Stewart was moved to tears while recording Daniel Johnston’s “Some Things Last a Long Time”— “If there ever were a sincere and wounded voice in the world, it is his.” On XMFX, Xiu Xiu transforms echoes of pop history into séances, lucid dreams, and sonic rituals — reviving music’s past through a sustainable practice that has spanned years.

YouTube Playlist HERE

LISTEN on YouTube:

“In Every Dream Home a Heartache” (Roxy Music cover)

“Pain”(Boy Harsher cover)

“Breakdown and Then” (Rowland S. Howard cover)

“Jolene” (Dolly Parton cover)