Echo & The Bunnymen - Market Town

Here is the newest of the new new jams from Echo and the B-men. On display is their typically advanced riffmanship, as well as Ian McCulloch's unmistakable wailing. In many ways this song fits comfortably among the lengthy list of catchy E&TB tunes. There is a very modern sheen of production here, lacquered across the track that makes it not difficult to discern from something released in say, 1984. Yet, the production does not deflate Echo's songwriting, like it has with other New Romantic compatriots, who still feel the need to keep rattling on. Instead, there is a better sense of clarity among the comforting sounds of chorus laden strumming, machine-like drumming, and haunted vocalizations. Truly a refreshing whiff of Post-Punk from the original masters themselves...After all, who else could possibly be chanting about "no survivors," in a market town?

Japan - Ghosts

One of the most aptly titled creep-pop songs of the last 40 years, Ghosts demonstrated a complete metamorphosis for Japan from Avant Garde Glam stars to nuanced New Romantics. Ghosts was released in 82',two years before Depeche Mode, put out similar sounding and slow building Blasphemous Rumours. Relying on virtually zero rhythm section, the song unwinds around a series of unconventional synth patches and David Sylvian's esoteric, baritone vocal delivery. Despite its bizarre melodies, this single proved by a top 10 hit, one of only 2 that the band ever had. Bellow is a terrific 'live' performance of the track where Sylvian seems to glow with a ghostly hue, as the haunting tune floats out into the ether. DIG IT::::

New Order - Round and Round

When the Earth does falls under the New World Order, and we're all enslaved by the lizard people, I hope they at least appoint Bernard Sumner as the new Emperor. This week I'm delving into the deepest crevasses of Third Rock's greatest electro-group of all time. Yes, my love for New Order is undying. I'd shout it from the tallest mountains and lowest valleys - the rolling rivers and flowering meadows. Why? Well, duh they're super terrific, always have been, and they just kicked off an epic US tour, with Holy Ghost!, I might add (see you at Williamsburg waterfront tonight?) Anyway, its just one of those weeks, when Joy Division just won't do, so throw on some Substance and say, "Woohoo!" This is an extended 7" version of Round and Round, one of the singles from Technique. Check it now

Twisted Wires - Half Lives

The hidden gem of the new After Dark compilation, is this dark-haus track from Twisted Wires. TW, a mysterious Johnny Jewel affiliate and apparent one song pony, cloak themselves in a brooding goth-disco, post-punk, New Romantics sound. The track opens with bouncing piano chords and soon morphs into a jagged chunk of glowing aggro-crag. Its the only song on the most recent Italians Do It Better comp to feature male vocals and it comes as a refreshing break from the chirping, angelic female vocals that dominate most of this record. Take a listen to this one, and find out why some wires are better left twisted!!!!!!!!!!