I’m DELIGHTED to report that there seems to be an exciting resurgence of THE DARK SIDE of the 80s with bands borrowing heavily from goth, new-romantic, and industrial! I hope this is only the beginning and we see a lot more of this sound this year… anyway watch this space!

♫ Light Asylum – A Certain Person (demo) (MP3)

Shannon Funchess (previously of !!!) new project is completely electrifying! It’s minimal and haunting – like Soft Cell with a Bauhaus vocal. I’m completely in love with her deep and masculine voice. I can’t wait for their first release – until be sure and listen to their Myspace demos to death. Also loveloveLOVE Dark Allies live – can’t wait to hear it recorded (check it out). I’m kinda hoping Shannon is a lesbian – cool music gays are the best!

♫ Agent Side Grinder – Die to live (MP3)

This group actually look a bit like they’re from the 80s! Fast industrial grind with that distinctive deep gothic style vocal.

♫ Blessure Grave – Stranger in the house (MP3)

Lo-fi joyously gothic melodies reminiscent of Joy Division and The Sisters of Mercy – catchy and creepy simultaneously – delicious!

♫ Ale Mania – Rampage (MP3)

Dark post-punk gothic rock – again extremely lo-fi and visceral – comes complete with buckets of wailing!

♫ The Dark Esquire – Situation (MP3)

The electronic dark new-romantic style of Dark Esquire is different from the rest featured but still borrow heavily from goth club staples, such as Depeche Mode, Human League, Visage and Duran Duran – you could actually be forgiven for thinking it was straight out of the 80s.

Added older stuff…

♫ The Legend! – I’m not like that (MP3)

I had to include this track from 2004 – firstly because it feels like a secret gem that holds a special place for me and secondly because it’s palpable despair is so ramped up it feels close to teenage goth histrionics. He really sounds like the saddest man alive – if anyone has any more Legend! tracks please get in touch as this is the only one I have!

♫ Soft Cell – Bedsitter (MP3)

I don’t have much to say about this one except it’s a CLASSIC and ties all of the above together – sadness, and minimal electronics! I’d love to hop into a time machine to dance with people to this in that amazing 80s new-romantic styleee (I was desperately searching for a YouTube to illustrate but didn’t have any luck… I’m sure you get it though!).