‘Song of the summer’ gets way too much attention if you ask me. The colder months are the perfect time to discover some new music fit for the new season. Here are some of the most atmospheric albums – new and old – to listen to when you want to cosy up on a chilly evening with a cup of hot chocolate.
The Cure – Disintegration
This one’s for the fans of all music on the dark and gloomy side. Widely to be considered The Cure’s masterpiece, 1989’s Disintegration is an ethereal post-punk record that shows only the very best of the genre. Charging in with ‘Plainsong’, the album starts on a note that could come straight from a dreamy sci-fi soundtrack. Disintegration is an emotional journey, from the deeply melancholic ‘Pictures of You’ to the head-over-heels romance of ‘Lovesong’ (the covers of which are fine, but nothing compares to Robert Smith’s original). Give it ago if you love synth and sad lyrics.
Available via Fiction Records Ltd.
Salem – Salem
Salem are brand-new on the alternative scene, but they’re the perfect listen for the Halloween season. Comprised of Creeper’s Will Gould and long-time collaborator Matt Reynolds, it’s full of love songs with a gothic core. Expect big choruses and dark imagery beating through the punk rock guitars that drive the band’s self-titled debut EP, with some of the best songwriting around. Salem are truly embracing the season as they get ready to play Halloween shows in London and Southampton – don’t miss out.
Available via Roadrunner Records UK.
Björk – Debut
Another classic album to enjoy at this time of year is Icelandic superstar Björk’s Debut. Sure, you might not always understand everything she’s saying (she has a tendency to sing , but her music has a unique innocence in its sound that you can’t get out of your head. ‘Human Behaviour’ is a vocal powerhouse, unlike anything you’ve ever heard. Don’t forget about ‘Venus as a Boy’, a new take on the classic love song trope. Björk sings in a completely inimitable yet inherently natural way, refusing to conform to the standards of pop music.
Available via Bapsi Ltd. / One Little Independent Records.
Militia Vox – Bait
Looking for some alternative metal with stunning vocals that defies genres and breaks boundaries? Maybe not, but you should be. Enter Militia Vox, queen of New York’s underground scene. ’46 & 2’ builds up to an electronically tinged heavy rock banger. On the other side of the spectrum, her cover of Depeche Mode’s ‘Waiting For The Night’ is equal parts moving and beautiful. Her lyrics go above and beyond, using dark imagery and gothic horror to really tell a story.
Available via Militia Vox
Siouxsie and the Banshees – Spellbound: The Collection
Siouxsie Sioux is the true musical icon of the autumn and winter months. She was the leading lady of the gothic subculture of the 1980s and to this day her music is the perfect soundtrack for this time of year. Since it’s impossible to choose just one records from her back catalogue, Spellbound: The Collection is the best place to find all of their greatest hits in one place. Check out the titular ‘Spellbound’, a spooky track that should make its way onto every Halloween playlist. Other classics like ‘Mirage’, ‘Cascade’ and the ever-charming ‘Peek-A-Boo’. This collection is perfect for new fans looking for a crash course in the Banshees.
Available via Spectrum Music.
Vicky Greer
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