Here at Unit One we’ve been steadily monitoring a renewed fascination with the dark affairs and dreary sound scapes of Goth pioneers like Bauhaus, Sisters of Mercy, Sex Gang Children, and anyone who might’ve found the influence for their sound in the diverse umbrella of post-punk or within the black eyeliner smeared walls of the infamous Batcave club.
I don’t know if it was the foresight of Psychobilly revivalists “The Horrors” or an eventual disgust that would’ve arisen out of our last two years of obsession with day glow and acid house, but many and especially kids in London(go figure) have come to the conclusion that Siouxsie, Peter Murphy, Robert Smith, and the perpetually clad in black were onto something.
As a new mixtape is ever in the works to articulate the various movements and interpretations of Goth, I felt it my obligation to give you a breakdown of what shape Goth’s revival is taking and how exactly it sounds for the time being. So keep in mind when “New Grave” is on your lips by the end of the year that Unit One was watching it from it’s inception.
-Rosalie Cunningham’s vocals for the band “Ipso Facto” compare notably to the singing style of Siouxsie herself. Coincidence? Doubtful, as Ipso Facto seems to have taken up the reigns of new British dreariness.
-I’ve been likening S.C.U.M’s sound to a sort of Bauhaus/Suicide hybrid and this makes them my favorite band in the movement. I’m constantly drawn to goth rocks early years and its identity arising out of post-punk’s still present nihilism.
-If Lydia Lunch of Teenage Jesus and the Jerks was to come back in her full furry I think it would’ve been under the guise of Kasms. The apocalyptic and frenetic energy delivered just in their recordings is enough to make me salivate. Imagine how energetic their live shows must be. Depressing British girls in all black are taking center stage right now aren’t they?(so in love <3)
-Ulterior’s sound doesn’t harken to the brooding atmospherics we’d expect when equating a band with what we commonly think of as “Goth”, but rather they’re more akin to Chameleon’s early glam-rock/dream pop energy. Nevertheless their sound fits well enough into the Goth category for me.
-Micron 63 is the night club entrenched industrial sound of Ministry and early electronic body music. This makes the band most accessible to me as a DJ. Their music is filled with angst and hardly touches the encroaching romanticism that encompasses most rock bands under the umbrella of Goth music.
-Passions is a stateside “Electro” producer and has long been one of my favorite producers in new forms of club music. I’ve known he’s had an affinity for various movements of goth music and various parts of the industrial scene, but man was I not expecting this. Here we find Darkwave influenced club tracks that are both DJ friendly and full of musicianship. Perfect! Be sure to check out his Goth night “Manic” if you live in the New York area as well!
Keep in mind the Goth mix is on the way. If you can’t wait till then apparently Keith P has decided to play a set dedicated to these sounds on the 31st at Fallout Lounge. Go listen and dance to it!
