More Gothic Musings – Part 2

Part Two of my (Personal) History of Goth…and things are starting to get serious….

I remark during the programme that with the benefit of hindsight, I for one am able to enjoy many of the tracks played in this series much more than I did in the moment.

I hope that you are able to derive as much enjoyment in the series yourself.

Suicide – Girl – Suicide – 1977

First, we repair to NYC and the claustrophobic repetition of post-punk electro duo Suicide. Stripped down and dangerous.

The sound of the seventies willing itself to decay and disappear…

Iggy Pop – Baby – The Idiot – 1977

We woosh to from New York to New Europa where Ig The Wonder Kid touches down with the Thin White Duke bringing with him a whiff of Dark LA to Chateau D’Herouville, Paris.

Pop channels his inner Morrison and is reborn as a Berlin Baby.

The Walker Brothers – The Electrician – Nite Flights – 1978

The centre piece of The Walker Brothers last album. A song that is not about your friendly bulb remover.

Think CIA torturer…if you can.

The song also featured as the lead track on the OST from the film “Bronson” staring Tom Hardy.

Gary Numan  – Complex – The Pleasure Principle – 1979

Numan’s first solo album following two albums with Tubeway Army.

Complex was the 2nd single from the album and reached number 6 in the UK charts as I am sure you remember.

Features Billy Currie from Ultravox on violin and viola.

The Cure – Another Day – 3 Imaginary Boys – 1979

And so…here they are at last… often regarded as THE Goth band.

Desperately seeking to escape the seventies and flourish forth like a mascara laden butterfly, three boys from Crawley crawl through their debut towards better days.

Siouxie and The Banshees – Christine – Kaleidoscope – 1980

From their third album, this track marked a slight change in direction. New guitarist John McGeoch introduces acoustic guitar to their sound palate.

The lyrics inspired by one Christine Sizemore, a lady that was supposed to have twenty two personalities. Blimey.

Echo and The Bunnymen – Monkeys – Crocodiles – 1980

Signs of Goth detected early on in this their debut album.

Rolling Stone magazine, said, “Instead of dope, McCulloch trips out on his worst fears: isolation, death and emotional bankruptcy.

Sums it up perfectly.

The Psychedelic Furs – Sister Europe – The Psychedelic Furs – 1980

One of rock’s most underrated vocalists; Richard Butler reveals his inner Bowie.

Produced by Steve Lillywhite apparently told Butler to sing as if he were talking by telephone at around three o’clock in the morning.

As one does…

Joy Division – Atmosphere – Substance – 1980

Originally released as “Licht und Blindheit”(Light and Blindness) on French label Sordide Sentemantal.

NME voted the song number one in its “The 20 Greatest Goth Tracks” in 2009.

Peter Hook quite rightly regards the song as one of Joy Division’s greatest.

How can I not agree ?

Bauhaus – Spy In The Cab – In The Flat Field – 1980

Bauhaus, probably the finest bands to emerge from Northampton – tell me I’m wrong….appearing out of the black in 1979 with the indisputably correct assertion that “Bela Lugosi’s Dead”

Memorably described as an “undead Roxy Music” Bauhaus went on to shift many tonnes of black eyeliner as well as land-fills of black bin liners over the course of their half-life.

Peter Gabriel – The Intruder – “Melt” – 1980

The first artist to morph from Prog to Goth.

Gabriel sets the scene perfectly…menacing and tense and for once those gated drums seem just right.

 Joy Division – Eternal – Closer – 1980

Ian Curtis approaches the difficult subject of childhood isolation brought about through adverse health conditions from birth.

Brave song… I recommend that Curtis’ lyrics be read through before listening to the song.

Too late now though I guess.   

Siouxie and The Banshees – Into The Light – JuJu – 1981

In my opinion, the best Banshees’ album. Profound (well…within reason- lyrics and a genuinely exciting sound.

A band at the peak of their powers.

John McGeoch really is was a unique talent and should be lauded far more than he has been.

New Order – Truth – Movement – 1981

To me…still Joy Division but without Ian Curtis.

The bridge from the claustrophobia of Joy Division to the eventual gleam of the New Order.

Soft Cell – Bedsitter – Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret – 1981

A track from Soft Cell’s debut. Cited by critic Jon Savage as being one of the greatest songs of the 80s.

An album that triumphantly melds together pop and decadence.

David Sylvian – Ghosts – Tin Drum – 1981

Originally released on Japan’s Tin Drum album – I have chosen a remix from Sylvian’s career retrospective “A Victim of Stars”.

The song was discussed at lengths in – and its lyric provides the title for – the late critic Mark Fisher’s 2014 critical work “Ghosts of My Life: Writings on Depression, Hauntology and Lost Futures”.

A highly recommend read.

The Stranglers – Golden Brown – La Folie – 1982

Taken from the “La Folie” album that was the band’s lowest charting album to date.

Then Golden Brown was released as the album’s second single – an excellent decision as the single reached number 2 in the popular charts.

A song about a girl…and heroin…allegedly…

The Gun Club – A Devil In The Woods – Miami – 1982

We return to the USA for a slice of raucous rock and roll.

The Gun Club were an American post punk band from Los Angeles that existed from 1979 to 1996. Created and led by singer-songwriter and guitarist Jeffery Lee Pierce.

A heavy Blondie presence generally here – Chris Stein produced the album and Debbie Harry contributed backing vocals as D.H. Lawrence Jnr.

The Associates– Boys Keep Swinging – Double Hipness – 1982

A pretty straight cover of the Bowie’s un-straight track from Lodger.

The Psychedelic Furs– Only You and I – Forever Now – 1982

The band’s third album and produced be Todd Rundgren.

A somewhat forgotten album that is well worth revisiting.

The Cult– Love – Love – 1985

The absolute zenith of this band’s career say I. superbly produced and with much fantastic material.

Billy Duffy completely on fire on this the title track. The album also produced three hit singles in She Sells Sanctuary, Rain and Revolution.

The Stranglers– European Female – Feline – 1982

The album Feline was generally regarded as being staid and boring upon release and is certainly not one of the band’s best.

However – the track…full title being European Female (In Celebration Of)..is a well-crafted track and is well worth its inclusion here.

 The Jesus & Mary Chain– Somethings Wrong – Psychocandy – 1985

Taken from the band’s debut release it perfectly showcases their intention to fuse The Velvet Underground, The Stooges, The Beach Boys and The Ronettes.

A Glorious Racket !

Echo & The Bunnymen – The Killing Moon – Ocean Rain – 1984

One of the best albums to come out of the 80s – to surprisingly mixed reviews upon release.

The Killing Moon a stone classic, moody and magnificent…

Depeche Mode – Shake The Disease – Single – 1985

Released as a single in April 1985 the track became available on a couple of compilation albums “The Singles 1981-85” and “Catching Up With Depeche Mode”.

Thus ends episode two of my personal history of Goth – episode three in two weeks’ time.

Any suggestions or requests for that episode or indeed any show related comments – email [email protected]