Recent Dark Wave Playlists

New releases: Sugar, Japanese Popstars (with Robert Smith), Frankie Goes to Hollywood

New releases: Sugar, Japanese Popstars (with Robert Smith), Frankie Goes to Hollywood

This week’s new releases include an audiophile vinyl reissue of ‘Copper Blue,’ the debut from Bob Mould’s post-Husker Du power trio; The Japanese Popstars’ ‘Controlling Your Allegiance,’ featuring the single ‘Take Forever’ with The Cure’s Robert Smith; and a 2CD reissue of Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s ‘Liverpool.’

Hacienda gig footage of Bauhaus, Echo & The Bunnymen, Nick Cave to be posted online

Hacienda gig footage of Bauhaus, Echo & The Bunnymen, Nick Cave to be posted online

A treasure trove of early ’80s concert footage shot at New Order’s legendary club FAC51 The Hacienda soon will make its way online thanks to a deal by Ikon — Factory Records’ video spinoff — to provide its remaining archive of performances to Peter Hook’s site fac51thehacienda.com.

Bryan Ferry taking 'Olympia' tour to Europe, U.K. — plus first U.S. dates since 2003

Bryan Ferry taking ‘Olympia’ tour to Europe, U.K. — plus first U.S. dates since 2003

Eight months after the release of ‘Olympia,’ occasional Roxy Music frontman Bryan Ferry is embarking on a mammoth tour this summer and fall that will take him to Israel and all across the U.K. and Europe — plus his first U.S. dates since 2003.

The Smiths' 'Queen is Dead' released 25 years ago today; watch 1986 'Rank' concert

The Smiths’ ‘Queen is Dead’ released 25 years ago today; watch 1986 ‘Rank’ concert

Twenty-five years ago today, The Smiths released their third — and, arguably, best — album, ‘The Queen is Dead,’ a note-perfect marriage of Johnny Marr’s peerless pop songcraft and Morrissey’s pointed political commentary, lovesick laments and wicked humor.

Lou Reed records album with Metallica: 'Berlin' meets 'Master of Puppets'

Lou Reed records album with Metallica: ‘Berlin’ meets ‘Master of Puppets’

No stranger to odd musical detours — whether it be ‘Metal Machine Music’ or his most recent project, ‘Hudson River Wind Meditations’ — the legendary Lou Reed has a particularly unlikely musical partner for his next album: thrash-metal titans Metallica.

Stream 3 tracks from Railcars' noise-rock cover of Kate Bush's 'Hounds of Love'

Stream 3 tracks from Railcars’ noise-rock cover of Kate Bush’s ‘Hounds of Love’

San Francisco noise-rock act Railcars this summer will release a cover of the classic first side of Kate Bush’s 1985 album ‘Hounds of Love’ on limited-edition cassette and one-sided vinyl formats — and you can hear three of the genre-bending tracks here.

Stream: OMD, 'History of Modern (part I)' — off forthcoming 'Live in Berlin' album

Stream: OMD, ‘History of Modern (part I)’ — off forthcoming ‘Live in Berlin’ album

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark will release a 20-track live album and hardback book called ‘History of Modern Tour: Live in Berlin’ this August to commemorate the group’s rapturously received comeback last year. Stream one of the tracks here.