UK music newspaper Sounds was a great champion of the band (it was through their album reviews page that I first heard of X-Mal), and - when Sounds folded - Melody Maker continued the trend. Two writers in particular spring to mind - Chris Roberts and Mick Sinclair. Mick's December 1983 Sounds feature on the band is transcribed here. Chris Roberts' March 1987 feature from Melody Maker is transcribed here.