The Last Beat of My Heart by Siouxsie and the Banshees was released 35 years ago!
The Last Beat of My Heart by Siouxsie and the Banshees was released on 21st November 1988 by Polydor / Wonderland as the third and final single from the band's ninth studio album, Peepshow.
The song is a ballad with strings and accordion. Sioux's vocals addressed a lover who is leaving a relationship, as she asked for him to return to her. She declared her desire to be "close to you til the last beat of my heart".
"The Last Beat of My Heart" reached number 44 in the UK Singles Chart in December 1988. Upon its inclusion on the 1992 compilation album Twice Upon a Time: The Singles, a live recording of the song from 1991 replaced the single version.
The Last Beat of My Heart (7"/12"/CDS)
| 1 | The Last Beat Of My Heart | 4:27 |
| 2 | El Dia De Los Muertos | 3:33 |
| 3 | Sunless (12" + CDS only) | 4:21 |
| 4 | El Dia De Los Muertos (Espiritu Mix) (CDS only) | 5:36 |
The Last Beat of My Heart (Lyrics)
In the sharp gust of love my memory stirred
When time wreathed a rose a garland of shame
It's thorn my only delight war torn
Afraid to speak, we dare to breathe
Majestic, imperial a bridge of sighs
Solitude sails in a wave of forgiveness
On angels wings
Reach out your hands, don't turn your back
Don't walk away
How in the world, can I wish for this?
Never to be torn apart
Close to you 'till the last beat of my heart
At the close of day the sunset cloaks
These words in shadow play
Here and now, long and loud
My heart cries out
And the naked bone of an echo says
Don't walk away
Reach out your hands I'm just a step away
How in the world can I wish for this?
Never to be torn apart
Close to you till the last beat of my heart
How in the world can I wish for this?
Never to be torn apart till the last beat
Till the last fleeting beat of my heart
Songwriters: Budgie / Steven Severin / Susan Ballion
Although the band had several releases since 1985, Isn't Anything is often considerd as the real debut studio album by My Bloody Valentine. It was released on 21 November 1988 by Creation Records. Its innovative instrumental and production techniques consolidated the experimentation of the band's preceding EPs and would make it a pioneering work of the subgenre known as shoegazing.
Upon its release, the album received rave critical reviews and reached number one in the UK Independent Album Chart. A 1988 year-end roundup of the year's top albums in Melody Maker ranked Isn't Anything third of the year and called it “a raving nymphomania and out-of-body experience establishes them as absent-minded rulers of this daydream nation."
Isn't Anything has subsequently become regarded as one of the greatest albums of the 1980s. The album has been included in The Guardian's list of "1000 Albums to Hear Before You Die" and ranked as number 16 in their "Alternative Top 100 Albums" list.
The NME ranked the album at 187 in its list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time while Pitchfork selected the album as the 4th best shoegaze album of all time.
Isn't Anything (tracklist)
Soft As Snow (But Warm Inside)
Lose My Breath
Cupid Come
(When You Wake) You're Still In A Dream
No More Sorry
All I Need
Feed Me With Your Kiss
Sueisfine
Several Girls Galore
You Never Should
Nothing Much To Lose
I Can See It (But I Can't Feel It)
Bonus tracks (Originally included as bonus 7" with the album)
Instrumental A
Instrumental B
Alaska's goth rock duo, Cliff and Ivy have just unveiled their new single, "We Ignite" featuring guitarwork from Jim Babjak of The Smithereens.
"We Ignite" is the first single from Cliff and Ivy's next album called Sinister Stars, releasing early spring, 2024. The song is about lovers who escape to a passionate galaxy filled with dark glam rock-n-roll stars. Their love burns bright enough to own a universe of darkness. The lyrics for "We Ignite" are inspired by the escape of passionate love bringing you on an ecstatic journey through the cosmos.
Cliff and Ivy talk about their work with Jim Babjak: "We wanted to collaborate with musicians we've known for many years. Usually we work as a duo. This was an opportunity to do a classic rock style tune with a darker feel. Jim Babjak's lead guitar for The Smithereens has always been an inspiration. We are from the same home town, New Brunswick, NJ.
His style is pop and melodic yet still with a mysterious psychedelic rock edge. We wanted to make a song with a dark psychedelic rock feel so he could add his guitar. Brian Troisi is a long time collaborator and played drums with us in our first punk band and previous Cliff and Ivy releases."
Jim Babjak states:
"I've known Cliff since he was a 13 year old kid who used to frequent my record store in New Brunswick, NJ. This was in the early 80's years before The Smithereens had a record deal. I used to call him a diamond in the rough after he would play me some of his early recordings. It's so cool to reconnect after all these years and play guitar on this awesome record!"
"We Ignite" is available on all major digital platforms including Bandcamp.
New Jersey-based darkwave/post-punk band, Neon Funeral has just unleashed their new EP, Banned From The Goth Club courtesy of Cleopatra Records.
The EP's theme is based upon the band feeling alienated from the goth scene. The name of the EP, Banned From The Goth Club was given because of the band's challenge in finding their audience given their contradictory sound.
The band states, "The goth audience can't exactly get fully immersed into the music because of the aggression and intensity of the vocals and the hardcore scene can't exactly understand the softer and dance-driven instrumentals for moshing. We once performed at a goth venue and seemed out of place and out of touch with the audience. We then coined the phrase "Banned From The Goth Club" to welcome the eclectic sound and introduce it playfully."
The songs on Banned From The Goth Club go through different emotional undertones. "Avolition" is fast and dance-driven with a good melody. "High Tech Low Life" takes a slower, more somber approach but ends with a very fast, intense electronic sound and metal vocals. "A Void" is a very introspective song that covers questions of nihilism, drug addiction, and societal pressures. The last track is a cover of Eddie Murphy's 80s "one hit wonder", "Party All The Time".
The video for "Avolition" was filmed at a local vintage arcade and bar that the band felt would match their aesthetic well.
Banned From The Goth Club is available on all major digital outlets including Bandcamp.
Industrial band, Panic Lift completes their five EP release cycle with the new release, Again. Again features the blistering lead single, “What Happens Now?” and is accompanied by the downtempo “Timelines” along with two remixes from E.S.A. and Absynthe Of Faith.
For “What Happens Now?” Panic Lift lead singer, James Francis addresses the anxiety of watching the world around us in turmoil and the long-term effects it has on the human psyche. “In the 80’s we had the Cold War, in 90s we had Iraq, then September 11th, and now we've had COVID-19. I feel like each generation has been constantly on edge due to the world being in a constant state of upheaval, and it’s hard to ever imagine a time where we could be optimistic about the future.”
The release of Again also celebrates a milestone for Panic Lift as they complete the entire 21 song release cycle by unleashing the DOUBLE CD titled Split Pieces Stitched Together Again. This album compiles all 21 songs into a long play album format. The CD is limited to 100 copies worldwide.
Again is available on all major digital outlets including Bandcamp.
