Strawberry Switchblade
“Dark Wave,” hosted by Slicing Up Eyeballs’ Matt Sebastian, explores the darker side of classic ’80s alternative, including vintage goth, post-punk and industrial. The shows airs at 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Eastern every Sunday on Sirius XM satellite radio’s 1st Wave (Channel 33).
The most recent two episodes are also available to subscribers to stream via the Sirius XM app.
Got a request? Requests will be considered for future episodes as long as they fit the show’s format and fall generally within the 1st Wave era — and provided the host doesn’t harbor an intense dislike of the song. If there’s something you’d like to hear, drop it in the comments below.
HOUR 1
The Mission, “Over the Hills and Far Away” (The First Chapter)
New Model Army, “Running in the Rain” (Vengeance: The Whole Story 1980-84)
Cocteau Twins, “Athol-brose” (Blue Bell Knoll)
The Smiths, “Oscillate Wildly” (Louder Than Bombs)
The Teardrop Explodes, “Ha Ha I’m Dreaming” (Kilimanjaro)
Echo & The Bunnymen, “Do It Clean” (Live) (Crystal Days 1979-1999)
Kate Bush, “This Woman’s Work” (The Sensual World)
Chris Connelly, “July” (Phenobarb Bambalam)
The Snake Corps, “Another Monday” (Flesh on Flesh)
Love and Rockets, “All In My Mind” (Express)
The Sisters of Mercy, “Dominion/Mother Russia” (Floodland)
The Stranglers, “Princess of the Streets” (Rattus Norvegicus)
Christian Death, “Tragedy” (Sex and Drugs and Jesus Christ)
HOUR 2
Depeche Mode, “Enjoy the Silence” (Harmonium) (Enjoy the Silence)
Joy Division, “A Means to an End” (Closer)
Quiet Room, “She Sits Alone” (She Sits Alone)
The Cure, “Just One Kiss” (Extended Mix) (Mixed Up: Deluxe Edition)
Ministry, “You Know What You Are” (Land of Rape and Honey)
Hilt, “Crazy For You” (Journey to the Center of the Bowl)
Pig, “Shit For Brains” (A Poke in the Eye… With a Sharp Stick)
Einstürzende Neubauten, “Sand” (Halber Mensch)
Laibach, “Warme Lederhaut” (An Introduction To)
New Math, “Ominous Presence” (Gardens)
The The, “Dogs of Lust” (Dusk)
Japan, “Gentlemen Take Polaroids” (Gentlemen Take Polaroids)
Strawberry Switchblade, “Go Away” (Strawberry Switchblade)
Siouxsie and the Banshees, “The Killing Jar” (Peepshow)
HOUR 3
Bauhaus, “Silent Hedges” (The Sky’s Gone Out)
Fields of the Nephilim, “Power” (Dawnrazor)
All About Eve, “Flowers In Our Hair” (All About Eve)
45 Grave, “Evil” (Evil Tracks)
Clan of Xymox, “Blind Hearts” (Blind Hearts)
Nitzer Ebb, “Sugar Sweet” (Ebbhead)
Coil, “Things Happen” (Love’s Secret Domain)
Assemblage 23, “Damaged” (Meta)
Doubting Thomas, “Father Don’t Cry” (Father Don’t Cry)
The Slits, “Earthbeat” (7-Inch Version) (Return of the Giant Slits)
The Pop Group, “She Is Beyond Good and Evil” (Y)
The Sound, “Skeletons” (From the Lion’s Mouth)
The Fall, “Cruisers Creek” (Peel Session) (The Complete Peel Sessions)
Big Black, “Racer X” (Racer-X)
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- Playlist: Sirius XM’s “Dark Wave” — hosted by Slicing Up Eyeballs (8/3/25)
- Playlist: Sirius XM’s “Dark Wave” — hosted by Slicing Up Eyeballs (7/27/25)
- Playlist: Sirius XM’s “Dark Wave” — hosted by Slicing Up Eyeballs (7/20/25)
- Playlist: Sirius XM’s “Dark Wave” — hosted by Slicing Up Eyeballs (7/13/25)
Slicing Up Eyeballs independently selects all releases featured on this site, but we may earn a commission from products purchased through affiliate links. Those commissions help support and fund the site.
Hi Matt, thanks for the awesome show tonight and for playing Blind Hearts!
Not sure if it’s appropriate, but I’m leaving this here:
Visage – The Anvil
Have a good week!
Great show tonight Matt – thanks for putting together another fabulous 3 hours of content for us!
Request for a future show, if I may?
Schnitt Acht – “Rage”
Thank You!
Dave W.
Long Branch, NJ
Awesome show! First hour was especially fire. For sometime in the future, how about “Johny Hit and Run Paulene”?
Have a great week, everyone!
Not making any more requests because they don’t seem to get played lately anyway, they used to, but not anymore.
Excellent show. Request for next week’s show:
Either “Ahead” or “Circumspect” by Wire. Have had those two songs on repeat lately.
Thanks, Matt!
Hey Matt, that was a splendid show. Thank you! Would you be willing to play “On Another Day” by Sad Lovers and Giants?
The Stranglers – Skin Deep
Yessssss!
Hi Matt! Thanks so much for playing This Woman’s Work…..there are few songs that get me physically emotional, but that is one of them. It means a lot that you take our choices and put them into your realm. ◉‿◉
A great program this week — I especially loved the first two hours!!! Some possible suggestions for next time:
The Cult – The Witch
NIN – Something I Can Never Have
Pixies – Into The White ( Peel Session 1989)
Thanks again as always!!! ｡◕‿◕｡
I gotta second the NIN having just seen them this past week. DO NOT MISS if you have the opportunity! Amazing show.
I wish …. Toronto has been basically sold out minutes after they went on sale and too much $$ for bad seats now. But I’ve seen them a few times so I’m ok with it!! My favorite tour of theirs was the NIN SOUNDGARDEN PWEI (no idea when it was ……years ago lol)!!
Awesome show last night! Down the Bunnymen rabbit hole, that made me laugh out loud. Thanks for finding the live version of Do It Clean, that’s the one I was thinking of with the Sex Machine verse, so good. Maybe my fellow darkwavers can help settle an ongoing debate between me and a buddy: best ever rhythm section, Andy and Mike or Les and Pete? That live cut makes a damn strong case for Les and Pete.
Other highlights were the stunning Kate Bush track, faves from The The and Siouxsie, and to close out with The Fall and Big Black, my goodness. Long live Mark E. Smith and Steve Albini. We can never have too much Big Black.
Matt, you and I both love a killer cover version. I’ve got one for you: “Isn’t it a Pity” by Galaxie 500.
Have a great week Matt, cheers!
I’ll second this request. A lovely cover of a great Harrison song.
Oh Dark One…Matt,you have once again delivered,oh yeah!I really like NEW MATH and the cut was so good,definitely sounded 80’s,loved it,shame about the band but I’m gonna check it out thanx!Here’s a few nods if you will,take care & all the Dark best to you!
JOY DIVISION-Colony
TUBEWAY ARMY-Praying to the Aliens
STUMP-Buffalo
M.
I agree with Murdoch. Loved the New Math track. Great show, but I love it when you play stuff I’ve never heard of.
Looking at the record company, they released one of New Math’s EPs already. One from ’81 titled “They Walk Among You”. Was listening to it at work. The Propeler Sound release includes some nice covers including them doing the Stones’ “We Love You” and Willie Alexander’s “Hit Her Wid De Axe” (never thought that one would be covered).
Just to keep the New Math train rolling, on a future episode, please play their song “Branded”. It’s the one I kept rewinding today.
Thanks for the great music. Have a good one.
So good! Requesting :-)
Blasphemous Rumours DM
The Cure The Blood
The love out me SATB
Thanks Matt
Rocking summer DW!
Here’s a request –
Galaxie 500 – Tugboat
Thanks!
Hey Matt, how about Chessboards from Killing Joke? Not only a great band but also on the soundtrack of cult classic surf film “North Shore”.
Is it possible to play the following next week? Its a bit obscure/underground but a great band from the 80s: Love In A Dying World by The Veil from their Surrender album (1985)
Hello Matt, missed your last couple of shows , most recently on Sunday night at the Forever Gray show in Phoenix. Previously emailed you at the “info” link about requests for playing them, but here goes again with some suggestions: “Arctic Flower”; “Alone”; “People Ask My Age”; “Turn on Death”.
IMHO, they’ve made a lot of great songs, but I’ll stick with these for now.
Cheers!
Loved that Chris Connelly track. And the Coil. I bought “Love’s Secret Domain” on vinyl and have been playing it nonstop. “Things Happen” sounds even better singled out, especially when it’s coming after Nitzer Ebb. I also picked up “Horse Rotovator” and listening to that one has been something close to a religious experience for me. Hypnotic. I have a request from that one –Coil’s cover of “Who by Fire.” Gorgeous.
Thanks again for all the great music!
I know this is a very strange request for darkwave, but I think this one might fit in when things get punky on the show in the future. The request is
“Tick” by Ween. Thanks, have a good week.
I look forward to this show each week and am never disappointed.
Thank you.
Hearing Japan/David Sylvian always a joy.
Perhaps some Tuff Darts?
Earnie
Absolutely! Hearing Japan or David Sylvian is always great!
Thanks as always! My requests:
Just Out of Reach (Barbed Wire Kisses Version) – Jesus and Mary Chain;
Bargeld – KMFDM;
Desert Storm (Remix) – Klute;
Reload – Ministry.
Much appreciated!
Second the request for JAMC “just out of reach”
Thirded! One of my fave b-sides from the Reids.
Fourthed!! You guys know wassup!
T’was all great but that Chris Connelly track was the tops! Thanks for another great edition, Matt!
+1 to Nathan’s comments about the NIN tour – go see it if you’re able!
PSA: I realize this is not directly darkwave but I believe there’s a good bit of love for Andrew Weatherall on here. Resident Advisor has been doing a countdown to their 1000th podcast mix series over the last few weeks, and the final one just posted today. It’s a 6hr back-to-back w/Andrew and DJ Harvey (another legend). There’s a disco cover of The Killing Moon in there so I don’t feel too bad posting this ;-) Highly recommended!
Hey Matt!
I know we love us some Shriekback here on SXM Dark Wave! So how about: “Despite Dense Weed” for a future show? And as always thanks for playing Christian Death and Hilt !!
Cheers
Salutations Matt!
Great show and thank you so much for playing Love and Rockets’ All in My Mind! I agree with Earnie, it’s always great hearing Japan as well, absolutely love Gentlemen Take Polaroids!
A few requests:
The Chameleons — Perfume Garden
David Sylvian — Silver Moon
Can’t wait for next week’s show!
Dylan
Gina X Performance – No G.D.M. (1978) Qobuz + Apple Music + Bandcamp
Urban Verbs – The Good Life (1980) Qobuz + Apple Music
Hi Matt, a remark off topic. As good as the playlist is every time, I would like to suggest a small “improvement”. If you list the albums the songs are from in brackets, it might be helpful, maybe even for younger listeners, if the information was a little more specific. For example, the source of the song “Blood Money” is given as the album “First And Last And Always”. Which isn’t really true, because the song is of course a B-side of “No Time To Cry” and can’t be found on the album. However, it is on the remastered CD version of “First And Last And Always”, so I think this could be more helpful. Because in times when vinyl has at least temporarily the upper hand in sales again, listeners who then buy the album on vinyl because they want the song “Blood Money” could be a little disappointed. Another example would be “She’s Lost Control” 12-inch version by Joy Division, where “Unknown Pleasures” is given as the source, which is of course not correct because the 12-inch version is not there. This version can be found on “Substance”, for example. I think for listeners who are looking for the songs, a more correct indication of the source would be helpful. Don’t take my comment against me. All the best!
Awesome Show again. I have been listening at work all week as always.
Can you play Stranger by Clan of Xymox on a future show?
Awesome Show again. I have been listening at work all week as always.
Can you play Stranger by Clan of Xymox on a future show?
Awesome Show again. I have been listening at work all week as always.
Can you play Stranger by Clan of Xymox on a future show?
Always a fan of hearing a live version of “Do It Clean”. This one was amazing. Thanks!
Wow!!! I wish this were on a better timeslot but totally stoked there is some industrial on SiriusXM.