This week’s new releases include a new B-sides compilation from the Pet Shops Boys (‘Format’), a new live album by Wire (‘The Black Session’), a vinyl reissue of Cocteau Twins’ ‘Stars and Topsoil,’ a new John Foxx and the Maths’ album, a 2CD reissue of Big Country’s ‘The Crossing’ and an archival live album from The Plimsouls.’
The playlist from tonight’s edition of ‘Dark Wave’ — the weekly ‘darker side of alternative’ show on Sirius XM’s 1st Wave — featured Kate Bush, Ministry, Love and Rockets, The Cure, Concrete Blonde, The Teardrop Explodes, Lords of the New Church, The Mission and much more.
If you’re planning to watch the Super Bowl, keep your ears open during the commercial breaks: Two ’80s college-rock classics — Echo & The Bunnymen’s ‘The Killing Moon’ and The Cult’s ‘She Sells Sanctuary’ — are soundtracking a pair of high-profile ads for automaker Audi and beer giant Budweiser, respectively.
This past week’s Slicing Up Eyeballs headlines included news about The Cure, Depeche Mode, New Order, Morrissey, Flipper, The Human League, Dead Can Dance, The Cult, Wire, Paul Weller and Happy Mondays — plus our Q&A with David J and a brand-new Auto Reverse mixtape for February.
Flipper is revving back into service this year, with a handful of U.S. dates announced in the coming months along with plans to perform at the South By Southwest Music Conference in Austin, Texas, this spring followed by a tour of the U.K. and dates in continental Europe in April.
The Human League — set to release an expanded 2CD edition of its 1981 synthpop classic ‘Dare’ this March — this week announced XXXV: The 2012 Tour, a 14-date U.K. trek planned for this November and December that will commemorate the 35th anniversary of the band’s formation in Sheffield, England.
This month’s Auto Reverse mixtape includes new music from The Wedding Present and Sonic Youth’s Lee Ranaldo, plus new remixes of The Cure and Depeche Mode and plenty of old faves by the likes of The Chills, Kraftwerk, Squeeze, Oingo Boingo, The Go-Betweens and many, many more.
Q&A: Daniel Ash on Love and Rockets’ reunion, his new band — and figuring out how to play “So Alive” 
Q&A: Chris Frantz talks Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club and new book ‘Remain in Love’ 
Q&A: Steve Wynn on The Dream Syndicate’s first new album in nearly 30 years 
Q&A: Bauhaus’ David J on his ‘accidental’ concept album ‘Not Long For This World’ 
Q&A: Peter Murphy on ‘Ninth,’ Bauhaus’ break-up, reuniting Dalis Car 
Q&A: Joey Santiago on Pixies’ ‘Doolittle’ tour, possible ‘Surfer Rosa’ shows, new album talk 
Q&A: Prefab Sprout’s Paddy McAloon on new album, changing the world with music 
Q&A: Peter Hook talks ‘Unknown Pleasures’ tour, re-recording Joy Division 