It’s almost Halloween, how about this goth classic: (For any of you who haven’t heard this before, it starts out very slow building ambiance, and takes until almost the three minute mark to pick up pace.)
Great new posts in here after I finally hit the hammock last night. I'll catch up and listen after work tonight ...
Our electricity went down last evening around 10ish, during the nor'easter, before I got to listen to the new chunes. I felt deprived on a Saturday night. It came back on at 0800 today. I'll catch up tonight.
This piece is very challenging for the "average US listener" -- it was for me -- but worth the effort. A few thoughts. One, you're right: starts slowly -- even though I wouldn't call that "ambient"; more jazz -- but picks up just before 3:00. Definitely goth. Got those minor (or is it flat? I'm so bad with music theory) notes predominating vocals; dark). Two, it represents an important role of music that's too often understated in an age when "peppy, happy music" sells s^!t: dark sadness existential nihilism is out there, and will be heard. Three, I was briefly exposed to goth in a basement cellar in western OR in the early 2000's. Mind you, I was in my 50's by that time. I was OK with the music, but not with the ... culture. (What was happening over in those dark corners of the basement didn't appeal to me as much as the dance music upstairs.) Four, I did, however, get into some indie stuff after that. Jane's Addiction is the closest to goth but still indie. But more energetic, dancable, and fewer flat cords.
Here's something different for a minute. And the win/win/winner is .. "I told you, home boy: Can't touch this."
@Stone I'll definitely agree with you that Bela Lugosi’s Dead is not a typically approachable piece, particularly to your ‘average US listener’ , even more so when you realize that it was released in the early 80’s. Its not necessarily a favorite of mine either, more of a song I enjoy for its place in music history and the sheer uniqueness of it, if I were to really critique it I can note that the structure is a bit too repetitive IMHO. I am fond of use of minor notes and/or down tuned chords however, for me they add a lot of depth to music if done well. I’d call Janes Addiction more alternative rock than indie, mostly just because I tend to associate indie with more folk rock type stuff though, technically anything that’s not signed to a major label or typical sounding can be considered indie however, so in that sense they certainly are.