Malka first gained prominence as a founder member and bassist of Minimal Compact the Israeli/Dutch group based in Amsterdam and Brussels in the '80s. They released several recordings on Brussels based label Crammed Discs and toured extensively throughout continental Europe during that time, gaining a loyal following. The group disbanded in 1989 with guitarists Rami Fortis and Berry Sakharov returning to Israel to pursue solo careers, Malka and singer Samy Birnbach stayed on in Brussels with drummer Max Franken returning to his native Amsterdam.

During the second half of the eighties Malka married Wire member Colin Newman, the couple met while Newman was producing Minimal's "Raging Souls" recording, and worked with him on his two Crammed albums (Commercial Suicide & (It Seems). Having cemented a working relationship to complement their marriage the couple set about setting up their own studio, initially for demos and pre-production (Newman's "It Seems" album was started off there). The birth of their first child prompted a move somewhere a bit bigger thus the studio gained it's own space and projects began to have a life in it. Born from the ashes of Minimal Compact the first project to come forth was Oracle, a collaboration by the pair with Samy Birnbach (DJ Morpheus). The release of it's debut LP Tree by Swim in October 1994 saw the culmination of 5 years R+D during which the project developed a unique "genre-busting" sound and identity.

It was always reckoned that Malka should do a "solo" album and some encouragement was forthcoming from companies in her native Israel. However it was quickly realised that the "local" market mentality would be too constraining so the album was realised in their own studio using an aesthetic the pair felt more comfortable with. In late '93 following a re-location to London and the foundation of the Swim record label the album Rosh Ballata ( literally "concrete head") was released to some critical acclaim both in the UK, continental Europe and in the USA. A domestic Israeli release was secured (through Sony affiliate NMC) but Swim scored their first triumph by outselling it (not bad for an album in Hebrew!!)

Malka's second solo release the minialbum Hide finally released in 1997 was not to come about for some years due to concentration on the Swim label and the electronic collaboration with Colin, Immersion. The minialbum featured 3 new songs as well as a cover version of Minimal Compact's "Returning Wheel" and remixes by g-man , Immersion & Incarnate. 1997 also saw the release of the album Bastard a collaboration this time featuring Colin's name.

Not only has Malka been continuously producing music since 1981 but has also become increasingly involved in the visual aspect of her and other's work having taken photos featured on both her own, Immersion & Colin's album as well as publicity photos for Berry Sakharov, Rami Fortis & Colin Newman. Immersion have also made an installation in the museum of Modern Art in Dublin in 1996.

1998 saw the release of what may be not only the most important Malka Spigel record to date but also the finest work the collaboration of the pair has produced in the shape of My Pet Fish . This was followed up by a tour in Europe from which the mail order only live album came.

During 2000 Malka has increasingly been drawn into the fine arts realm. Some examples of her work can be found online at the nonspace gallery

Discography
Biog (with pictures)
Malka's ever popular flickr page
Malka's myspace

See also
Githead
Immersion
newman/spigel
Colin Newman
Oracle

(Biography Last updated 6 July 2008)