Coil was an English experimental group formed in 1982 by John Balance, who was soon joined by his Psychic TV bandmate and former original member of Throbbing Gristle, Peter Christopherson.

Over the years, Coil's work was very diverse exploring various themes including the occult, sexuality, and alchemy while crossing through musical boundaries, styles, and genres such as experimental electronic, industrial, minimalist, dark ambient, noise, and drone among many others.

After the release of their 1984 debut EP How to Destroy Angels, Coil's first album was Scatology in 1985 followed by Horse Rotorvator in 1986, an album considered as one of the most influential industrial records created.

In addition to Balance and Christopherson, who were the only two consistent members of Coil, many contributors would join them over the years.

Following the accidental death of John Balance in 2004, Peter Christopherson would announce the end of the band. There would be one final album and the release of a number of older recordings and compilations. Peter Christopherson died in 2010.

This podcast will tell the story of the band and their experimental work over their career, with a focus on the first two classic albums.

After forming in the mid-1980's, the music of the English band All About Eve fell loosely into the UK goth rock scene. Over the next few years, the music would evolve into a more unique, folk-rock influenced style, all behind the beautiful voice and songwriting of lead singer Julianne Regan.

All About Eve would create four studio albums beginning with the 1988 self-titled debut album that included the hit single "Martha's Harbour". Following the second studio album, guitarist Tim Bricheno left the band was was replaced by Marty Willson-Piper, long time member of The Church. After two albums with Willson-Piper, including one album with a guest appearance from David Gilmour, the band would end their initial run in 1993.

This podcast will talk about the early years of the band, the music of their albums through the 1992 fourth and final studio LP, and their subsequent years.

The 1982 self-titled debut album from A Flock of Seagulls was one about extra-terrestrial invasion and alien abduction with themes of technology and space. This concept album blended synth-pop and post-punk while featuring atmospheric synthesizers, electronic sounds, chiming guitars, along with the iconic songs: "I Ran (So Far Away)" and "Space Age Love Song".

A Flock of Seagulls' music and image, including the distinctive hair style along with innovative music videos, became synonymous with 1980s pop culture and the early years of MTV as the band helped to define and shape synth, dance and electronic music of the era.

This podcast episode will tell the story of the early years of the band, the success of the debut self-titled album, and the music the band created over their next couple of albums.

In 1982, Cocteau Twins released their debut album Garlands. For this Scottish band of Robin Guthrie, Will Heggie and the amazing vocalist Elizabeth Fraser, this was the beginning of a new sound on the path to becoming one of the most influential artists of the era.

Soon after the debut album, founding member Heggie would leave the band and be replaced by Simon Raymonde prior to the third album, the 1984 genre defining, Treasure.

From the early works of the band, Cocteau Twins earned critical praise for their sound as the band pioneered the music styles known as “dream pop” and “ethereal wave”.

Not only did this group define new genres of music and also influence the music world and countless artists that followed, but they additionally created a singing style with lyrics of no known language where the voice was more like an instrument.

This episode of our podcast tells the story of the formation of the band, their early years, and the music through the time of their third studio album, 1984's Treasure.

Led by vocalist and guitarist Jeffrey Lee Pierce, the post-punk band The Gun Club blended punk music with blues and other American roots music influences to become one of the first of the early days of post-punk to fuse those genres.

Formed in 1979, The Gun Club became a fixture of the Los Angeles underground scene and would create seven studio LP’s during their history, starting with the blues filled 1981 album, Fire of Love.

Started by Pierce along with guitarist Kid Congo Powers, the band would go though many members over the years contributing to the evolving music styles, but the band was always fronted by Pierce. The Gun Club continued until Jeffrey Lee Pierce’s death in March of 1996 at age 37.

The pioneering Pierce’s legacy continues to inspire many artists today, and that has been well represented as part of The Jeffrey Lee Pierce Sessions Project.

In this podcast episode, we tell the story of the early years of The Gun Club, their music, and the legacy of Jeffrey Lee Pierce.

Document was the fifth studio album from R.E.M., but the first album with producer Scott Litt, who would co-produce this 1987 album and the next five albums with the band. This album, with such classic songs as "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" and "The One I Love", would help move alternative rock to the mainstream.
In 1988 the band would sign with Warner Brothers after their longtime relationship with the independent label I.R.S. Records and release the sixth studio album, Green. This album would become their biggest selling record to date as R.E.M. experimented with new instrumentation and studio elements.
In this episode we will tell the story of this Athens, Georgia band during the time of these two albums, along with the music that helped define alternative rock and it's mainstream acceptance.

The Slits were one of the first all-female punk bands and one of the pioneering bands of the post-punk era as they blended reggae and dub with punk music.

Formed in London in 1976, the band's unique style and music was represented in their 1978 debut album, Cut, that has been called one of the defining releases of post-punk. The highly influential album included the songs that challenged societal norms, in particular the anthem song, “Typical Girls”, a song that questioned traditional ideas about femininity.

The Slits would end their original run in 1982. However, in this span The Slits made a lasting mark and influence on the future of many young female rockers, and an impact on several musical movements, most notably the Riot Grrrl movement of the early 1990’s.

In this episode we will tell the story of how the band formed, their music of the early years, and the influence and impact on music.

The English synth-pop duo of vocalist Marc Almond and instrumentalist Dave Ball, better known as Soft Cell, created one of the most successful singles ever, "Tainted Love", followed by the influential 1981 debut album, Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret.

"Memorabilia", released just after Soft Cell signed with the independent label Some Bizarre Records, has been recognized as a pioneering song of the synth-oriented techno or acid house genre that would follow later in the decade.

This podcast episode tells the story of the band’s early years with Some Bizarre Records, including the incredible debut album and the follow up albums from the band through 1984.