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15 Darkwave Bands You Need To Hear
07/23/1999 2:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Bryan Reesman
In the wake of the tragic Littleton, Colo. shootings, the Goth scene has been unfairly condemned by many in the mass media as a murderous, mutinous, misanthropic movement. Those people who have actually been involved with the scene and are enlightened about such matters--are you listening, 20/20?--know that this dark subculture is filled with literate, educated, technology-savvy people who simply find interests outside of mainstream American culture. Of course, to conservative minds, that means evil.
Furthermore, it's doubtful that the subculture's detractors have even listened to its music. For those of you willing to see beyond lame media stereotypes, the Goth scene has plenty of spooky cool music to sample in the form of classic Goth-rock, electro, ethereal, and darkwave. Each subgenre offers its own conventions. Classic Goth you know in terms of Sisters Of Mercy, Christian Death, and Bauhaus--those somber yet frequently danceable songs with deep male vocals and minor-key progressions. Let's also not forget those angst-ridden, existential lyrics which often offer cathartic moments when presented properly. In other words, the foundation of modern Goth and darkwave. Electro falls in the techno and industrial realm; ethereal is what it implies, delicate and wispy music full of atmosphere, generally featuring female vox; and darkwave is the catch-all term for Gothic music which either mixes elements of these and other music genres or simply defies categorization.
Darkwave is becoming quite a common term to use in the genre-twisting '90s, preferred by some people to Goth, which sounds dated to many outsiders. [And I remember back when it was called "death-rock"! - Editrix] Judging from the talent pooled together in this overview, the darkwave underworld is growing in all directions. I suppose we should all beware of eventual extreme possibilities like Gothabilly, Goth-ska, and disco-Goth, but that's the price we pay for progress, isn't it?
Oh, and for the record, Marilyn Manson is not Goth...
BLACK TAPE FOR A BLUE GIRL - Composer/ lyricist/ keyboardist Sam Rosenthal's perpetually mutating "band" is as cryptic as its unorthodox name. Representing Rosenthal's often tragic-romantic ruminations, the group is a somewhat ambient cousin to the popular ethereal Gothic aesthetic and uses male and female singers to represent different characters. Despite lineup changes, vocalist Oscar Herrera and violinist Vicki Richards have routinely resurfaced on Black Tape albums throughout the years. My favorite is A Chaos Of Desire, a sonic swirl of over-the-top vocals, surreal synth work, and Richards's electrifying playing. Throughout 1999, BTFABG have reportedly played every major U.S. city in support of the new As One Aflame Laid Bare By Desire, and have two special Philadelphia gigs lined up in November at the Philadelphia Museum Of Art and the Stars End Gathering, the latter hosted by WXPN DJ and prolific electronic musician Chuck Van Zyl.
CLAIRE VOYANT - Singer Victoria Lloyd has an exquisite voice, one put to good use in this ethereal combo. Their eponymous debut and its follow-up Time And The Maiden are not really as dark as many of the groups listed here, but the romantic, heartfelt nature of the music, and many of its corresponding musical elements, certainly appeal to fans of parallel darkwave artists. On Claire Voyant's second album, Lloyd will captivate you as the group subtly and effectively utilizes dramatic keyboard swells, delicate guitar, and gentle beats. Emotion pours through as her singing melts into the stirring instrumentation.
FAITH & THE MUSE - One of the most successful bands in their genre (and probably the most revered), the duo of multi-instrumentalist William Faith (ex-Mephisto Waltz, Christian Death, Shadow Project) and vocalist Monica Richards (ex-Strange Boutique) has produced some wonderful dark rock. Whether it's a ghostly vocal tapestry, a Celtic-flavored tune, or an orchestrated rocker, Faith & the Muse strive to push Goth boundaries. They are working on their highly anticipated third album, Evidence Of Heaven; a recent press release states that this album "finds Faith & the Muse once again taking a turn in their sound and vision. In addition to the shrieking guitar Goth epics, Evidence also features moments of Victorian splendor, graced by Elizabethan court music and spiraling, delirious waltzes." Whew! Check them out in July and August on the Blackout A.D tour throughout America with labelmates Judith and Element.
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| Godhead |
GODHEAD - This Washington, D.C. quartet defies categorization, stirring Goth, industrial, and dance influences into a savory brew. Their last album, Power Tool Stigmata, was a refreshing change-of-pace from ethereal and electro stereotypes, and on it they boldly served up an unexpected, energetic rendition of "Eleanor Rigby." Godhead like to throw in everything but the kitchen sink into their electro-organic darkwave stylings--ominous keyboards, lively sequencing, even some metallic arpeggios. An added plus is that this is a live band, not a group heavily reliant on programming.
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| Human Drama |
HUMAN DRAMA - Frontman Johnny Indovina has kept his ensemble running for over a decade, utilizing it as a vehicle for his inner angst. While so many Goth bands--and he'd probably not claim to be in one of them--have played out the self-pity thing to death, Indovina usually manages to keep coming up with melodramatic tunes about love and relationships which resonant with strong emotions. A good example, and one of my favorite Human Drama lyrics, comes from "Blue": "The blue has fallen from the sky, and it has cast its hue over my heart." By overdoing the drama, Indovina has exposed not only the romantic fatalism of soured relationships but the trappings inherent in the melodrama of love itself. Combining the energy of rock, the intimacy and lyricism of chamber music, and the pastoral inflections of folk, the group's music works well with Indovina's soul-searching prose. The band's new album is Solemn Sun Setting; meanwhile the epic Songs Of Betrayal album was recently issued as two separate discs with bonus tracks.
IKON - This Australian duo has been perfectly described as Joy Division meets Death In June. Listening to albums like Flowers For The Gathering and In The Shadow Of The Angel certainly confirms this notion. Their original vocalist Michael Carrodus even sounded like a dead ringer for the late Ian Curtis (no pun intended), while the folksiness of DIJ was very apparent. But on their last album, This Quiet Earth, the then-trio lost their singer, pairing down to bassist Dino Molinaro and multi-instrumentalist Chris McCarter, who now handles the singing chores. Furthermore, the band has been flirting more with electronic influences, both ambient and techno. Ikon are the type of talented band who play familiar music which they invigorate with their own personality and modern influences. Check out their recent influx of CDs culling remixes and unreleased demos plus a new EP entitled Reality Is Lost 1999.
LORETTA'S DOLL - This amorphous, Manhattan-based quintet doesn't call itself Goth, darkwave, or anything else. That's because they keep exploring new vistas with each release. From percolating electro-industrial to somber, dark, ambient rock to melancholic folk, this band may confuse some listeners with their aural shapeshifting, but vocal-intensive listeners will enjoy Bryin Dall's distinctively deep voice. A recent addition to the band is bassist Derek Rush (who also fashions dark soundscapes as the enigmatic Dream Into Dust). Rush and Dall recently collaborated as Of Unknown Origin, while Dall released two solo albums under the moniker Fourth Sign Of The Apocalypse. The singer also recently toured with Psychic TV and ex-Throbbing Gristle icon Genesis P-Orridge (also recording with him as Thee Majesty on Time's Up), even playing the Royal Albert Hall in London! Be on the lookout for the new Loretta's Doll album Silver Dusk this fall.
LYCIA - Each Lycia disc is like a subtly morphing concept album which
progresses with the lives of its creators. On his first few efforts, founder Mike Van Portfleet created unique soundscapes--from weeping electric guitars, gloomy synths, raspy whispers, and the digital heartbeat of his drum machine--which sounded like they were conceived in the darkness of the womb. Van Portfleet was joined by David Galas and vocalist Tara Van Flower for the lush double-CD The Burning Circle And Then Dust. Galas stuck around for an industrial-tinged side-project called Bleak before departing. Since then, Mike and Tara have steadily imbued the music with a greater balance of light and dark (and hope) on Cold and Estrella. Van Flower recently released a beguiling, quirky new solo record, This Womb Like Liquid Honey, which sounds like the surreal soundtrack to an unreleased Tim Burton film. Additionally, Mike and Tara have a "treated acoustic" side-project in the works called Estraya. The next Lycia record will also feature ex-members Galas and John Fair back in the fold.
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| The Moors |
THE MOORS - Singer/ flautist Sharynne NicMhacha and guitarist/ sound sculptor Scott Dakota encourage you to trance out, and if you indulge yourself in the swirling soundscapes of their self-titled debut, you'll probably close your eyes and start swaying. Their epic debut is a truly captivating mix of tribal percussion, Celtic melodies, and the unorthodox tuning system of just intonation. Gritty and spacey guitars, mystical female vox, spiraling flute, and a variety of instrumentation blend seamlessly in the Moors' sonic universe. They have evidently generated a buzz in Germany and nabbed a licensing deal with German label Hyperium.
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| Rhea's Obsession |
RHEA'S OBSESSION - Sounding like a rocked-out version of Dead Can Dance, this Canadian outfit is propelled by the soaring, commanding vocals of Sue Hutton and the feedback-laden guitar work of Jim Field, not to mention some kickass tribal rhythms. These guys have also managed to nab a lot of film and TV work. You can hear their music in shows like Psi-Factor and, in particular, La Femme Nikita. They also licensed a song to the indie film Cube, which is evidently a cult hit in France and out on video in America. On top of their musical prowess, Sue and Jim will no doubt benefit from their sex appeal, something not usually associated with bands of their ilk. So much the better to take the mainstream world by surprise! They are currently working on the follow-up to their sparkling debut, Initiation.
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| Soil & Eclipse |
SOIL & ECLIPSE - So much Goth iconography is wrapped up in religious imagery. I've even seen darkwave shows in churches, and Soil & Eclipse are perfect for such a live context. Bubbling electro rhythms and lush synths lay a solid foundation over which singer Jay Tye lays down some wonderful operatic singing. On their impressive debut Necromancy and the new Meridian, Tye and cohort G.W. Childs IV conjure up some intense tracks which cull from electro and new wave sources while filtering in some darkwave undercurrents. As far as the studio, Tye has the advantage of being able to record some emotive backing tracks, even emulating a choir when he needs to.
SUNSHINE BLIND - Singer/ guitarist Caroline Blind and guitarist CWHK have kept this unit going now for a few years, and they are currently working on album No. 3. Sunshine Blind are known for a dark rock sound defined by razor-sharp guitars and a throbbing drum machine. They also do a rockin' version of "I Ran" by A Flock Of Seagulls! New album aside, the band has been recording other tracks, including "Tomorrow" for the Mere Mortal Compilation collection Death For Life, which showcases their new keyboardist and co-producer Mark27. Caroline says that "listeners will find us a little more electronic on that track." The song won't appear on their upcoming album, but "Land's End" (from the indie film Shower Of Blood) and "Afterglow" (from the forthcoming Cleopatra comp The Unquiet Grave, Vol. II) will. The former track "has a laid-back hip-hop groove" which one reviewer evidently called "crypt-hop."
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| Switchblade Symphony |
SWITCHBLADE SYMPHONY - I have to confess that three albums down the line, I still love Switchblade's debut Serpentine Gallery more than anything else they have done. The band began as a classic dark band with shades of Siouxsie Sioux and have steadily evolved into trip-Goth. While I'm a bit at odds with their dark electronic transformation, these guys are practically a shoo-in as a mainstream crossover band, something the Goth scene could use to keep things active nationally. Supporting the new Three Calamities--which Cleopatra Records claims is selling 1,000 copies a week--should keep them busy on the road for quite awhile. They've already toured with the likes of Gary Numan and Christian Death and opened for Type O Negative and the Sisters Of Mercy, so Switchblade's future is looking bright indeed.
TAPPING THE VEIN - Self-described as "Philadelphia's dark version of Garbage meets the Sneaker Pimps," TTV are good at the classic quiet-loud/ verse-chorus tradeoff so popularized in the '90s. Lead vocalist Heather Thompson sounds a bit like Alison Shaw from the Cranes, and she can move between delicate ethereality and some intense shouting. On their five-song debut Butterfly, TTV offer a nice mixture of rock and electronica in which you can hear strong echoes of Goth and industrial. They are set to release their second mini-album entitled EP2 and will continue playing the East Coast, including some dates with Joydrop and the Cruxshadows.
THEATRE OF TRAGEDY - Throughout their three albums, these melodramatic Norwegians have steadily softened their metal approach and sound more like a classic Goth band each time. They utilize that oh-so-chic combo of airy female singing and male death metal growls over their hard guitars and silky keyboards. Their charming third album, Aegis, features very flowery lyrics as well as song titles seemingly more fitting for a Cocteau Twins record, while growler Raymond Rohonyi has abandoned his black metal approach for a more palatable Goth-styled one. It's definitely their best record yet. In related news, Liv Kristine released her first solo album Deus Ex Machina last year. It's a fantastic, dreamy, romantic CD without the metal subtext.
To delve further into these artists' catalogs, surf on over to www.middlepillar.com.
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