Cult of Youth - A Stick to Bind, A Seed to Grow (Dais, 2008)

Is it possible? Could it be that a Gothic Neo-folk record can exist without utterly emulating Death in June? Could this also be an American artist? Why, yes, its actually happened. Sean Ragon has recorded an acoustic guitar driven album ripe with that martial sounding european pop intensity that we all know and love. He nods to many artists here, DIJ, Current 93 and I even hear a little Bad Seeds thrown in for good measure. I'm impressed and very excited about this debut full length. There is also a new one out on the ever impressive Sacred Bones label. Eat this one up.

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Miranda Sex Garden - Suspiria (1993, Mute)

Few bands in the Pop/Rock arena have had the vocal talent as Miranda Sex Garden. Donna McKevitt, Katharine Blake and Kelly McCusker possessed beautiful, anguished and angelic voices. They were supported by drummer Trevor Sharpe and guitarist Ben Golomstock, along with viola, violin, organ and keyboards. MSG had a highly unique style that completely broadsided many listeners at the time.

They were generically lumped into the Goth category. Upon attentive listening, you can actually hear cabaret, folk, experimental, medieval and even film score influences(they perform a rendition of "In Heaven" from Eraserhead).

They were one of the most interesting bands of the 90's that refused to be pigeon-holed and garnered little commercial success even after touring with several chart-topping Brit-pop acts. Unfortunately, Katherine Blake put this project aside to focus on her popular classical act Medaieval Baebes.

This is the crowning achievement of a great band. There are moments with tension worthy of Godspeed You! Black Emperor and feedback worthy of My bloody Valentine.

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Current 93 - Black Ships Ate the Sky (2006, Durtro-Jnana)

Prophecy? False prophecy? Apostacy? No matter your opinion, David Tibet knows that Armageddon is coming and he's been sharing his own doomsaying gospel for thirty years. Here, he employs a central theme with Idumea, Charles Wesley's 1763 Methodist Hymn of doom and doubt.

"And am I born to die?
To lay this body down?
And must my trembling spirit fly
Into a world unknown -
A land of deepest shade,
Unpierced by human thought,
The dreary regions of the dead,
Where all things are forgot?"

"Soon as from earth I go,
What will become of me?
Eternal happiness or woe
Must then my portion be;
Waked by the trumpet's sound,
I from my grave shall rise,
And see the Judge with glory crowned,
And see the flaming skies."

There are eight fantastic versions of this death-addled hymn. With vocals by Bonnie "Prince" Billy, Antony Hegarty, Marc Almond, Shirley Collins, Baby Dee, Clodagh Simonds, Pantaleimon and Tibet himself. And with a cast of musicians like Ben Chasny, John Contreras, William Breeze, Michael Cashmore and Steven Stapleton (Nurse with Wound), this a recipe for disaster...er...which, in this context, is a success.

Each version of the hymn is surrounded by lovely and simultaneously disturbing tomes and drones which are composed and executed impeccably. He speaks of endtimes, its characters, their insanity and their virtues.

Once again, the sheer intensity of Tibet's sackcloth and ashes murmurs and dream-like wailings make the impending apocalypse appear oddly romantic.

"I am the black ship...I am the black ship."

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