Music of the Week – Death in June – Cathedral of Tears (Studio II)

Hi guys, it’s time to post a neo-folk song, a genre that I haven’t exposed much on these pages but that I’m very fond of…

This is a song from (the very controversial for some) Death in June, one of the most influent bands (even if the only permanent member for decades has been the leader Douglas P.) in the field.
Starting from a sound quite similar to the one of Wire with their previous band Crisis (active until late 70s) and then landing to electronic and folk experiments with Death in June, they helped in shaping the sound and the mood of a new kind of folk music, one full of gloom, melancholy and an overall dystopian outlook, mixed both with the (at the time) emergent movement of new-wave and industrial/tribal electronics.

This song gives the title to the 1993 EP in which is contained and, in my opinion, is the best version of it overall. In case you’re wondering, the statue depicted on the cover is located in Spain. Enjoy!

Caraco article expanded!

Finally after a VERY long time I’ve updated the article about Albert Caraco. It’s quite a big addition and adds a lot of important points so be sure to read it!

Albert Caraco

Music of the Week – Dave Vanian and the Phantom Chords – Haunted Garage

Hello, my fellow readers…long time no see, eh? :)
I’ve completed the trascription of the update for the Caraco’s article, I only miss some quotes from a book that I haven’t access to now, but I will in the next days.

Meanwhile, after a long time, let me to share a good tune with you.

This one is from the obscure unreleased album (in 1990) from the solo project from David Vanian, of the Damned’s fame, after his band came to a stop in 1989.

The unreleased material, in my opinion, in much better than the released one (in  the band only official album, dated 1995). It’s a very powerful and original mix of punk, gothic rock (two genres that the Damned contributed to shape in different phases of their career), rockabilly. The result ? A very good haunting, minimalist and romantic sound.

This song is, in my opinion, one of those which expresses at best their peculiar sound, which predated in many ways the following psychobilly sub genre.

I was undecided with this song and the wonderful Joe Meek’s cover, “Johhny remember me”, an obsessive and morbidly haunting classic (if you don’t know it, do yourself a favor and listen to it!), with a twisted history behind it that  could fill a whole article. But this is another story…

Enjoy the Phantom Chords for now.