Cabaret Voltaire | Photo by Mark Lebon via EMI Records
“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
Killing Joke, “Chessboards” (Brighter Than a Thousand Suns)
Concrete Blonde, “Heal It Up” (Mexican Moon)
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, “Long Black Veil” (Kicking Against the Pricks)
The Gun Club, “The Breaking Hands” (Mother Juno)
David J, “I Can’t Shake This Shadow of Fear” (On Glass)
Acid Horse, “No Name No Slogan” (Hypo Luxa-Hermes Pan 12-Inch Mix) (Side Trax)
Cabaret Voltaire, “Don’t Argue” (C.O.D.E.)
Nitzer Ebb, “Come Alive” (Alan Wilder Mix) (Ebbhead)
Psyche, “Unveiling the Secret” (12-Inch Mix) (Unveiling the Secret)
The Sisters of Mercy, “Jolene” (Kid Jensen Session) (BBC Sessions 1982-1984)
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, “Walking On Your Hands” (Paint Your Wagon)
Tubeway Army,“Listen to the Sirens” (Tubeway Army)
Clan of Xymox, “A Day” (Clan of Xymox)
HOUR 2
Ian McCulloch, “Close Your Eyes” (Mysterio)
Cocteau Twins, “Feathers Oar-Blades” (Lullabies to Violaine)
Joy Division, “Isolation” (Closer)
Gang of Four, “Return the Gift” (Entertainment!)
Good Day Father, “Sonic Amadea” (Sonic Amadea)
Ride, “Vapour Trail” (Nowhere)
Medicine featuring Elizabeth Fraser, “Time Baby III” (The Crow soundtrack)
Kitchens of Distinction, “Smiling” (The Death of Cool)
Galaxie 500, “Isn’t It a Pity” (On Fire)
Bauhaus, “Lagartija Nick” (Bauhaus 1979-1983)
Death Among Friends, “Holy Innocence” (Heaven)
Alien Sex Fiend, “E.S.T. (Trip to the Moon)” (Acid Bath)
The Mission, “Like a Hurricane” (Extended Mix) (The First Chapter)
HOUR 3
The Cure, “Cold” (Pornography)
Parade Ground, “Moans” (The Golden Years)
Siouxsie and the Banshees, “This Wheel’s On Fire” (Through the Looking Glass)
The House of Love, “I Don’t Know Why I Love You” (The House of Love)
Nine Inch Nails, “Head Down” (The Slip)
Consolidated, “This Is Fascism” (Radio Edit) (This Is Fascism)
Einstürzende Neubauten, “Yu-gung” (Adrian Sherwood Remix) (Halber Mensch)
Ministry, “Just One Fix” (Psalm 69)
Suburban Lawns, “Flying Saucer Safari” (Suburban Lawns)
Chisel, “Six Different Ways” (Give Me the Cure)
Can, “Vitamin C” (Ege Bamyasi)
Executive Slacks, “In and Out” (The Complete Recordings 1982-1986)
1,000 Homo DJs, “Supernaut” (Dub Remix) (Trax! Rarities)
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- Playlist: Sirius XM’s “Dark Wave” — hosted by Slicing Up Eyeballs (2/1/26)
- Playlist: Sirius XM’s “Dark Wave” — hosted by Slicing Up Eyeballs (1/25/26)
- Playlist: Sirius XM’s “Dark Wave” — hosted by Slicing Up Eyeballs (1/18/26)
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Thanks for playing “Vitamin C”! Also, that Parade Ground track is something I’d forgotten about almost entirely. Great show tonight! The three hours just flew by…
Thank you. Matt, for playing my request of Psyche tonight. I appreciate you.
For future shows:
1. Kyoto Song – the Cure
2. City of Refuge – Nick Cave + the Bad Seeds
3. Love + Kisses – Altered Images
4. Sweetness + Light – Lush
5. A Matter of Time – Berlin
6. Blue-Eyed Pop – the Sugarcubes
7. I Must Not Think Bad Thoughts – X
8. The Ordinary Boys – Morrissey
9. Wonderful Woman – the Smiths
Thanks for playing “Walking on your Hands” by Red Lorry Yellow Lorry!
That Acid Horse song is awesome, Wax Trax has some hidden gems.
Would you consider “Push” as your next Cure song? It was one of the first Cure songs I ever heard and is still my favorite.
Thanks for the great shows, Matt!
Always been fond of KOD and “Smiling”, thanks for the memories! Another great one from them is “Sand On Fire” from the subsequent album. Keep up the great work
Great program this week — absolutely loved hours 2 & 3 !!! Thanks so much for playing my NIN request — looking forward to seeing them next week it’s been many years since I saw them. Loved the shoegaze set! Anyway I could gush all day but …
Some possible suggestions for next time:
James – Come Home
OMD – Electricity (Remastered 2019)
Depeche Mode – A Question of Time
Thanks again as always!!!! ｡◕‿◕｡
Bravo Matt,standing Dark Ovation!Thanx much for the play,it meant a lot,and it extended my bday one more Dark week!Once again,smashing sets that had me along for the ride,splendid!
And as always,a few requests to mull over,thanx again & ALL THE BEST to you.
BAUHAUS-Telegram Sam
SILICON TEENS-You Really Got Me
DINO LEE-Stud Pony
M.
Really enjoyed hour one and the shoegaze choices.
Here’s a request –
Siouxsie and the Banshees – Metal Postcard (Mittageisen)
Thanks!
Hi Matt, I really enjoy discovering music on your show, keep up the great work! On a future show, would you please play one of my favorite smashers, Darkness Before Dawn by Killing Joke. Thanks again.
— Tom
Greetings from Vegas. I’d like to request three songs from the soundtrack album to the criminally underrated 90s sci-fi mystery Dark City (the movie The Matrix “borrowed” from). These were tracks 2, 3, and 4 on the commercial CD release despite not actually appearing in the film at any point:
The Information by Course of Empire
Just a Touch Away by Echo & The Bunnymen
Dark by Gary Numan
Some requests for future shows:
Hunting Lodge – Tribal Warning Shot
Fini Tribe – I Want More
Lead Into Gold – A Giant On Earth
Musta Paraati – Ajatus
Test Dept – Compulsion
Cindytalk – It’s Luxury
Superb set Matt. These 2026 sets have been so on point. Thanks for playing my Parade Ground request, I just wish I had some of their stuff on vinyl. I feel like each show throws in a completely new surprise that totally blows me away. This week it was Death Among Friends, where in the world did you find that gem?! I looked em up on Discogs and apparently only one release, cassette only, from Canada? Wow, great find. Bad Seeds, shoegaze block, especially Medicine and KOD, Can and Executive Slack were highlights. Nice to hear that new Good Day Father track, looking forward to hearing more.
Request for a future communion: “Heartland” by The The.
Have a great week Matt, cheers!
The La’s – Over
BBC In Session version 1988
Psychic TV – I.C. Water (1990) Apple Music + Qobuz
Stan Ridgeway has been on my radar lately. I miss his voice. You need to find that guy and find out what he is up to.
Wall of Voodoo: They Don’t Want Me
Thanks Matt. I look forward to your show every week.
I love the deep tracks you play! I’d love to hear “Far Too Hard” by Dead Or Alive, a great but rarely played track (or any other DOA deep cut).
Thanks!
Song request:
Rational by King Cobb Steelie
Canadian song request for this Canadian girl’s birthday Feb 19.
Thanks!
Song request: [Any of these]
Crack Dream Over – Data Bank A
Puppets – Depeche Mode
Empire State – The Human League
Soluble Words (Sublingual mix) – On
Radioactive Flood – Posie Noir
Sound Mirror – Clock DVA
In Bluer Skies – Echo and the Bunnymen
My daughter came back from London and she surprised me with the cure the walk the dream … 45 vinyl. Love it. Maybe you can fit lament into a future show.