New Order | Photo by Richard Haughton via Warner Bros.
“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 show airs at 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Eastern every Sunday on Sirius XM’s 1st Wave (Channel 33).
The most recent two episodes are available to subscribers to stream via the Sirius XM app.
Got a request? Requests will be considered for future episodes, but there’s no guarantee they’ll be played. They must fit the show’s format and fall generally within the 1st Wave era. And not be something the host really dislikes. If there’s something you’d like to hear, drop it in the comments below.
HOUR 1
Love and Rockets, “Kundalini Express” (Express)
Southern Death Cult, “Apache” (The Southern Death Cult)
Modern English, “Drowning Man” (Drowning Man)
The Rose of Avalanche, “Dreamland” (In Rock)
Siouxsie and the Banshees, “Cannibal Roses” (Downside Up)
The Smiths, “Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before” (Strangeways, Here We Come)
New Model Army, “My Country” (No Rest for the Wicked)
Public Image Ltd., “The Order of Death” (This is What You Want… This is What You Get)
Nitzer Ebb, “Join in the Chant” (Burn! 12-Inch Mix) (That Total Age)
Lives of Angels, “Ascension” (Elevator to Eden)
Echo & The Bunnymen, “Over the Wall” (Heaven Up Here)
The Chameleons, “Monkeyland” (Script of the Bridge)
And Also the Trees, “Midnight Garden” (And Also the Trees)
HOUR 2
New Order, “Elegia” (Low-Life)
Modern Eon, “Watching the Dancers” (Fiction Tales)
Colourbox, “Edit the Dragon” (Colourbox)
Front Line Assembly, “The Blade” (Tactical Neural Implant)
The Cure, “Grinding Halt” (Three Imaginary Boys)
The Damned, “Plan 9 Channel 7” (Machine Gun Etiquette)
League of Nations, “Fade” (Music for the New Depression)
Martin Dupont, “Just Because” (1985 Remix) (Lost and Late…)
Cabaret Voltaire, “Sex, Money, Freaks” (C.O.D.E.)
Pixies, “Dig for Fire” (Albini Version) (Bossanova)
Wire, “Too Late” (Chairs Missing)
Boys Next Door, “Shivers” (Door, Door)
The Wipers, “Follow Blind” (Follow Blind)
Joy Division, “She’s Lost Control” (12-Inch Version) (Unknown Pleasures)
HOUR 3
Depeche Mode, “Enjoy the Silence” (Harmonium) (Enjoy the Silence)
Doubting Thomas, “F862” (The Infidel)
Ministry, “Golden Dawn” (Land of Rape and Honey)
The Sisters of Mercy, “Black Planet” (First and Last and Always)
This Mortal Coil, “You and Your Sister” (Blood)
The Sugarcubes, “Birthday” (Life’s Too Good)
David Bowie, “Cat People (Putting Out Fire)” (The Best of 1980/1987)
Bauhaus, “All We Ever Wanted Was Everything” (The Sky’s Gone Out)
Kate Bush, “The Big Sky” (Hounds of Love)
Morrissey, “Tony the Pony” (Our Frank)
The Cramps, “Sunglasses After Dark” (Songs the Lord Taught Us)
Christian Death, “Romeo’s Distress” (Only Theatre of Pain)
Controlled Bleeding, “Words of the Dying” (Buried Blessings)
PREVIOUSLY ON SLICING UP EYEBALLS
- Playlist: Sirius XM’s “Dark Wave” — hosted by Matt Sebastian (9/20/26)
- Playlist: Sirius XM’s “Dark Wave” — hosted by Matt Sebastian (9/13/26)
- Playlist: Sirius XM’s “Dark Wave” — hosted by Matt Sebastian (9/6/26)
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.
For future shows:
1. Dear Heart – Cocteau Twins
2. The Headmaster Ritual – the Smiths
3. My Love Life – Morrissey
4. I Remember Nothing – Joy Division
5. Burning Bridge – Kate Bush
6. Sister Midnight – Iggy Pop
7. Sorry For Laughing – Propaganda
8. Blue Hotel – Lene Lovich
9. Visions In Blue – Ultravox
10. Showroom Dummies – Kraftwerk
11. See Those Eyes – Altered Images
12. When I Was Young – Danielle Dax
13. Smack Jack – Nina Hagen
14. Same Old Scene – Roxy Music
15. A Matter of Time – Berlin (with Terri Nunn off the “Best of Berlin” compilation)
16. Tora! Tora! Tora! – Depeche Mode
17. Gloria – Patti Smith
Another really excellent show! I particularly liked the ones I didn’t know or only vaguely knew (League of Nations, And Also The Trees) and that Albini version of Dig for Fire was eye-opening!
I’m sure you heard that Bruno Kramm of Das Ich shockingly passed away a few days ago. Having been a fan of theirs since 1993, it’s sitting with me pretty rough. So obviously my top request:
Das Ich – Von der Armut (or anything really)
Elbern (Escape with Romeo) – Schnitterlied
Armageddon Dildos – The Hunter
Another great show, and as usual, I especially liked the more obscure stuff (Lives of Angels & League of Nations), and the Controlled Bleeding track was a great closer.
More requests again for future, with a theme, sort of. All of these are stuff that I like, but my wife (Nancy) dislikes, even though she usually likes similar bands :). And yes, I asked her if it was ok for me to post these, heh.
Hilt – Walkin’ on Thunder
Babyland – Mindfuck
Swans – Power and Sacrifice
Hi Matt –
Boiling this one back up from a couple of months ago “Shape Draw Back” by Swamp Terrorists.
Thanks
Dave W.
Long Branch, NJ
Thank you for playing the requests .
German Dark Wave industrial artist Bruno Kramm of Das Ich passed away suddenly after their show in Spain, this last week.
Please play “Das Ich – Destillat” – vnv nation remix . In remembrance of Bruno .
Thank you Matt for the best show on 1st wave and XM .
Hey Matt!
Thanks for playing Controlled Bleeding, It’s been a while since I’ve listened to them.
How about some ‘In The Nursery’? Your choice.
Thanks!
Loved Controlled Bleeding!
How about “The Sign Of Fire” by The Fixx?
Just one request… I was going thru some old DJ lists of mine, and was reminded of this gem. Amazing cool video too that MTV’s 120 minutes once gave us. “Far Side of Crazy” by Wall of Voodoo.
Seconded!
Good one once again. And thanks for playing the Albini version!
Here’s a DW request going into fall – Joy Division – Something Must Break
Thanks!
Thanks for playing my Moz request! Also, The Order Of Death always gives me chills
Wow,smashing 3 hrs. Matt!Brooding,dark and smooth,just how I like my coffee & Dark Wave music!And a big thanx for the request play,much appreciated.I’ll send these bits over as well for your consideration and you know the drill,ALL THE BEST TO YOU,ALWAYS!
FRONT 242-Moldavia
D.I.-Richard Hung Himself
GHOUL-Immigrant Song
M.
Very fun show last night. You played A LOT of request, many thanks as always for playing so many, including my Wire request. I just never can get enough of Chairs Missing. The Albini version of Dig for Fire was fire, I gotta hear more of those versions. And one of my fave things about the show is when you drop in an artist I’m not familiar with and then I do a little research and lo and behold there’s a cool connection. This week it was Lives of Angels. Great cut. Turns out that rerelase you mentioned on the show is courtesy of San Francisco record label Dark Entries who are also responsible for putting out some cool records by Parade Ground (who also have Front 242 connections) and Executive Slacks. Thanks for introducing us to another rare gem!
Request for a future communion: “Gold Rush” by Parade Ground.
Have a great week Matt, cheers!
Gitane Demone – Incendiary Lover
Great playlist, as always.
Thank you playing ‘Stop Me..” and ‘Over The Wall’! And you continue to impress by remembering Colourbox. I remember buying that import for the sole purpose of owning “Just Give Em Whiskey” that I caught on college radio at the time. I often wanted to request “Looks Like We’re Shy One Horse”, but realize it could be too long for the show.
Thank you so Much Matt!
Hi Matt I really loved the program this week – it flowed extremely well. There were a few tracks I had never heard of, but I was pleasantly surprised by them – you never steer us wrong!! I especially adored the New Order, Pixies, Sisters, and Chameleons. Some possible suggestions for next time:
Theatre Of Hate – Original Sin
The Snake Corps – Crimson And Clover
Echo And The Bunneymen – November
Thanks again as always!!!! ｡◕‿◕｡
Last Man in Europe- A Certain Bridge
Great show, thanks Matt!
Someday, someway, please play Laughing Song by the Residents.
Sir Matt, Thank You for playing This Mortal Coil for my wife’s Bday!!! Keep playing all of our Favorite Dark Wave!!!
PS Loving Doubting Thomas & always Japan
New Model Army AND Chameleons in same show?!?
Will you marry me, Matt?
Excellent show this week. As others mentioned, loved all the more obscure songs played. Thanks for giving me some new bands to look into. And thanks for the Bowie
Hope you have a good week
Modern Eon was a new band for me, did anyone else feel that the vocals were reminiscent of Perry Farrell?
Great show as always! But I’m always up for more trippy electronica and shoegaze! ;)
Here’s a real obscure request for you: “Black Limbo” by My Scarlet Life.
The Adverts – I Will Walk You Home (1979) Qobuz
Fuck Cancer
the dark-wave atmosphere lands hard; glass teeth would sit naturally in this set: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3dMPdFxnUMFKacoo61h4ws
Good set again Matt!
I’d like to request
KMFDM – Split
Matt’s set is the late one. The obscure songs are the part that stays. glass teeth is the dark pop room I trade from, one for one, after a song is actually on a public list.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3dMPdFxnUMFKacoo61h4ws
Hey Matt,
Checking in late to say how much I loved this past episode. Dig For Fire engineered by Albini: absolutely adored this. Despite his disparaging of the band after Doolittle, he truly was a wonderful fit for the band. That kicked off an incredible set including Wire and Wipers. Boys Next Door were unfamiliar to me – that was a strangely haunting song. Lives of Angels made for an incredibly cool discovery. The Cramps, Christian Death, and Controlled Bleeding trio of tracks was an awesome closer.
Looking forward to the next transmission