Underrated & obscure 80s music
A list of underrated, underground, obscure or forgotten 80s/early 90s bands that didn't really get the recognition they should have gotten.
Genres: post-punk, coldwave, darkwave, gothic rock, synthpop and minimal wave. I grouped them by countries and included a link to their best album (in my opinion) for each. But quite often they only released one album, or sometimes just demos.
Unfortunately I can only add bands for which lyrics are available... For even more obscure bands, I highly recommend these YouTube channels: In Depth Music, Mr. Kpm (full albums/EPs from all over the world) and Dronemf S. (songs and music videos mostly from ex-Yugoslavia).
I have to say that the levels of "obscurity" are quite varied. Sometimes the bands are actually kinda known and you can find their music on streaming services, while sometimes they're so obscure that you can't even find a picture of them... Just tell me if you think that some bands are too "famous" to be on that list, sometimes it's hard for me to tell because I wasn't even born then or I didn't live in these countries.)
Probably the most obscure band ever! This song is what originally got me into obscure 80s music. It was recorded from the radio in the early 80s by a German teen, who unfortunately didn't hear the name of the band. He's been searching for info about it for the past 20 years...
Recommended album: Borderline (1989)
(a personal favorite of mine)
Country: France
Genres: Gothic/Darkwave, New Wave, Rock
Languages: English, French
Recommended album: Opéra de Nuit (1988)
Country: France
Genres: Gothic/Darkwave, New Wave, Rock
Language: French
Recommended album: Photodrame (1987)
Country: France
Genres: Gothic/Darkwave, Rock
Languages: French, Spanish, English, German
Recommended album: Excès Nocturne (1988)
Country: France
Genres: Gothic/Darkwave, Rock
Language: French
Recommended album: Full Discography (1984-1990)
Country: France
Genres: Gothic/Darkwave, New Wave, Rock
Language: French
Recommended album: La Poupée (1991)
Recommended album: Le Sommeil du Singe (1988)
Country: France
Genres: Gothic/Darkwave, Rock
Languages: French, Latin, English
Recommended album: Bunker (1987)
Recommended album: Guerre Froide (1981)
Country: France
Genres: New Wave, Punk, Rock
Languages: French, English, German
Recommended album: Cathédrale (1985)
Country: France
Genres: Electronica, Gothic/Darkwave, New Wave
Language: French
Recommended album: Dans Votre Monde (1985)
Recommended album: Hot Paradox (1987)
Country: France
Genres: Electronica, New Wave
Languages: English, French
Recommended album: Decadence (1982-1985)
Country: France
Genres: Electronica, Electropop, New Wave
Languages: French, English, Italian
Recommended album: Polaroïd/Roman/Photo (1985)
Country: France
Genres: Electronica, New Wave, Pop
Languages: French, English
Recommended album: Moderne / L'Espionne Aimait La Musique (1980-1981)
Country: France
Genres: Electronica, Electropop, New Wave
Language: French
Recommended song: Anyway (1984)
(No full record available, unfortunately)
Recommended album: Don't Cry : Complete Recordings (1984-1986)
Recommended album: 7ème Discours Pour Une Meilleure Existence (1987)
Country: France
Genres: Electronica, New Wave
Language: French
Recommended album: Le Repos Des Enfants Heureux (1983)
Country: France
Genres: Gothic/Darkwave, Rock
Language: English
Recommended album: Un automne à Loroy (1989)
Country: France
Genre: Gothic/Darkwave
Languages: French, English
Recommended album: Temps D'Espérance... (1991)
Country: France
Genres: Gothic/Darkwave, New Wave, Rock
Language: French
Recommended album: Res Non Verba (1993)
Country: France
Genres: Gothic/Darkwave, Rock
Language: French
Recommended album: Le Nez Rouge (1989)
Country: France
Genres: New Wave, Rock
Language: French
Recommended album: Past and Future (1987)
Country: France
Genres: Pop, Rock
Languages: English, French
Recommended album: 70 Suns In The Sky (1989)
Country: France
Genres: Gothic/Darkwave, New Wave, Rock
Language: English
Recommended album: Maïakowski (1984)
Country: France
Genres: New Wave, Rock
Languages: French, English
Recommended album: 1978 / 1981
Recommended album: Vingt ans encore (1987)
Recommended album: Untitled (1987)
Recommended album: On The Razor Edge (1988)
Country: France
Genres: Gothic/Darkwave, Rock
Language: English
Recommended album: Swimming (1982)
Recommended album: Siglo XX (1981)
Country: Belgium
Genres: Gothic/Darkwave, Punk, Rock
Language: English
Recommended album: 1979-1982
Country: Belgium
Genres: New Wave, Rock
Language: Dutch
Recommended album: Tranquility (1982)
And for more gloomy Belgian coldwave, I highly recommend Koude Golven - A Collection Of Belgian Cold Wave & Punk 1979-1984, an amazing compilation with bands so obscure that I can't find their lyrics anywhere
Country: Belgium
Genres: New Wave, Rock
Languages: Dutch, English
Recommended songs: Dans Les Profondeurs & Une Certaine Fréquence (1981)
(No full record available, unfortunately)
Sometimes I really wonder what was happening in Belgium at the time to make such gloomy music. I didn't think it was possible to get gloomier than French coldwave...
Recommended album: Dance Of The Guility (1982)
Country: Belgium
Genres: New Wave, Rock
Language: English
Recommended album: The Speed Of Hope (1986)
Country: Belgium
Genres: New Wave, Rock
Language: English
Recommended album: The Art of Conservation (1980-2002)
Country: Belgium
Genres: Punk, Rock
Language: English
Recommended album: The Waiting (1984)
Country: Italy
Genres: Gothic/Darkwave, New Wave, Rock
Language: English
Recommended album: Chantaje Emocional (1983)
Country: Spain
Genres: New Wave, Punk, Rock
Language: Spanish
Recommended album: Décima Víctima + Un Hombre Solo (1982-1984)
Country: Spain
Genre: Gothic/Darkwave
Language: Spanish
Recommended album: El Túnel Del Tiempo + El Silencio De Los Cisnes (1982-1984)
Country: Spain
Genres: New Wave, Rock
Language: Spanish
Recommended album: Después De Un Día Antes (Compilation of their 80s songs)
Country: Spain
Genre: Gothic/Darkwave
Language: Spanish
Recommended album: La Centralita De Información (Compilation of their 80s songs)
Country: Spain
Genres: Alternative, Psychedelic
Languages: Spanish, German
Recommended album: It's Not The Time (1986)
Recommended album: Money For New Food (1986)
Country: Netherlands
Genre: New Wave
Language: English
Recommended song: Some Die For Money (1982)
(No full record available, unfortunately)
Country: United Kingdom
Genre: New Wave
Language: English
Recommended album: The Cinema Clock and Other Stories (Compilation of their 80s songs)
Country: United Kingdom
Genres: New Wave, Punk, Rock
Language: English
Recommended album: Fiction Tales (1981)
(a personal favorite of mine)
Recommended album: Author! Author! (1981)
(also a personal favorite of mine)
Country: United Kingdom
Genres: New Wave, Punk, Rock
Language: English
Recommended album: Heart Of Darkness (1981)
Recommended album: The Freedom Curse (1985)
Country: United Kingdom
Genres: New Wave, Rock
Language: English
Recommended album: Sirens Are Back (1984)
Country: United Kingdom
Genres: Punk, Rock
Language: English
Recommended album: World Of Rubber (1981)
Recommended album: Spy Thriller (Compilation of their 80s songs)
Country: United Kingdom
Genres: Electronica, New Wave
Language: English
Recommended album: Schleimer K (1981)
Country: United Kingdom
Genres: Electronica, Gothic/Darkwave, New Wave
Language: English
Recommended album: Breaking the Silence (1981)
Country: United Kingdom
Genres: New Wave, Rock
Language: English
Recommended album: Into the Rain (1982)
Recommended album: Original Mirrors (1980)
Country: United Kingdom
Genre: New Wave
Language: English
Recommended album: New Mexico (1982)
Country: United Kingdom
Genre: Electronica
Language: English
Recommended album: Space Museum (1982)
Country: United Kingdom
Genre: Electronica
Language: English
Recommended album: Further Strategies (Compilation of their 80s songs)
Country: United Kingdom
Genres: Electronica, New Wave, Pop
Language: English
Recommended album: Scriptures (1987)
Country: United States
Genres: Gothic/Darkwave, New Wave, Rock
Language: English
Recommended album: Echelons (1987)
Country: United States
Genres: Alternative, Rock
Language: English
Recommended album: Bas Relief (1986)
Country: United States
Genres: Electronica, New Wave
Language: English
Recommended album: Homeland (1982)
(This band is a bit peculiar, because they started as one of the very first US hardcore punk bands, then later moved on to post-punk. I only include them here because their post-punk album is a real masterpiece)
Recommended album: Peace, Love & Murder (1987)
Country: United States
Genres: Indie, Punk
Language: English
Recommended album: I Want To Be You (1982)
Country: United States
Genres: Gothic/Darkwave, Rock
Language: English
Recommended album: Into Bliss (1988)
Country: United States
Genres: New Wave, Rock
Language: English
Recommended album: The Fodder Song (1989)
Recommended album: Mi plačemo iza tamnih naočara (1986)
Country: Serbia
Genres: Gothic/Darkwave, Rock
Languages: Serbian, English
Recommended album: Album Mentalnih Fotografija (1988)
Country: Serbia
Genres: Electronica, Gothic/Darkwave
Languages: Serbian, English
Recommended album: Telo I Duša (1990)
Country: Serbia
Genre: Gothic/Darkwave
Languages: Serbian, English, Old Church Slavonic
Recommended album: Remastered In Babylon (Compilation of their 80s songs)
Country: Serbia
Genres: Gothic/Darkwave, Rock
Language: Serbian
Recommended album: Nestvarne Stvari (1984)
Country: Serbia
Genre: Alternative
Language: Serbian
Recommended album: Izdrži Udarac (1981)
Recommended songs: Tužan dan & Fotografije (instrumental cover of Depeche Mode's Photographic) (1985)
(No full record available, unfortunately)
Recommended album: We Design the Future (1985)
Country: Serbia
Genres: Electropop, New Wave
Language: Serbian
Recommended album: Zbogom Za Tebe (1984)
Country: Serbia
Genre: New Wave
Language: Serbian
Recommended album: Demo (1986)
Recommended album: Intro (1990)
Country: Serbia
Genres: Electronica, New Wave
Language: Serbian
Recommended album: Nezaboravan San O (1989)
(a personal favorite of mine)
Country: Croatia
Genres: Gothic/Darkwave, Rock
Languages: Croatian, English
Recommended song: Kuće (1982)
(No full record available, unfortunately)
Recommended song: Stranger (1980)
(No full record available, unfortunately)
Recommended album: Demo (1982-1987)
Country: Croatia
Genres: New Wave, Rock
Language: Croatian
Recommended songs: Tvoj Svijet (cover of Tears for Fears' Mad World) & Gdje Nema Te
(No full record available, unfortunately)
Country: Croatia
Genres: Electronica, New Wave
Language: Croatian
Recommended album: Prošlost I Budućnost (Compilation of their 80s songs)
Recommended album: Kaos Kuća Na Vrata (1982)
Country: Croatia
Genres: Alternative, Punk
Language: Croatian
Recommended album: Pingvinovo Potpalublje (Compilation of their 80s songs)
Recommended album: Mumije Lažu (1983)
Country: Bosnia and Herzegovina
Genres: New Wave, Rock
Language: Bosnian
Recommended album: Mizerika (1986)
(this is the tape version of the album, that I prefer compared to the later vinyl version which is actually a different recording)
Country: Slovenia
Genre: Electronica
Languages: Slovenian, Croatian
Recommended album: Demo (1986-1987)
Recommended song: Moja Sled (1984)
(No full record available, unfortunately)
Recommended songs: Sepak Istata Sostojba & Početok I Kraj (1985)
(No full record available, unfortunately)
Country: Macedonia
Genres: Gothic/Darkwave, Rock
Language: Macedonian
Recommended songs: Spokoj & Utre (1988)
(No full record available, unfortunately)
Country: Macedonia
Genres: Electronica, Gothic/Darkwave
Language: Macedonian
Recommended album: Rendez-Vous (1986)
Country: Poland
Genres: New Wave, Rock
Languages: Polish, English
Recommended album: Piąta Prostytucja (1990)
Recommended album: Statues in Motion (1983)
Country: Greece
Genre: New Wave
Language: English
Diazepan Medina
Sat, 03/12/2022 - 17:54
Diazepan Medina
Sat, 03/12/2022 - 20:06
otra, esta no es tan desconocida pero tiene su culto
https://lyricstranslate.com/es/derribos-arias-lyrics.html
LanternV
Sun, 08/01/2023 - 08:19
The industrial/experimental group Controlled Bleeding got some post punk/synthpop-ish works in their discography.
LanternV
Mon, 06/02/2023 - 22:26
The Perfect Name (Hungary)
They sounded more upbeat compared to goth rock/post punk bands.
https://lyricstranslate.com/zh-hant/perfect-name-lyrics.html
Könnyek És Virágok
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZUEyOdI5qA
Isis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYZKLGwD1Wg
saturnine
Mon, 06/02/2023 - 22:34
Thanks, I'll check their music tomorrow!
I haven't checked out much of Hungary's music yet, the only band I know is F.O.System
I think you might like it too: https://youtu.be/prixuPGujhQ
LanternV
Mon, 06/02/2023 - 23:20
Ah yes, instantly interested after the first song, cheers!
btw just now a Belgium band came to my mind, one of my all time favorite.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8CWZmuAuik
LanternV
Sat, 18/03/2023 - 11:23
I found a 1988 album today:
Circle Confusion - Meat Dept.
https://circleconfusion.bandcamp.com/album/meat-dept
https://soundcloud.com/wolverine0154/sets/circle-confusion-meat-dept-new
saturnine
Sat, 18/03/2023 - 16:22
Thanks! This one seems to be really obscure indeed. I've done some research but it seems that their lyrics are not available anywhere. But I found something interesting: it’s an American band, but their album was only released on a small French label, the same label as coldwave bands Asylum Party, Little Nemo, Mary Goes Round, and Collection D'Arnell-Andrea! Maybe that's how you found out about them?
LanternV
Sat, 18/03/2023 - 16:47
I couldn't find the lyrics either, and the interesting part is, I found the band first before discovering it's on the Lively Art label. I found it on the account of an industrial/tribal group: https://bandcamp.com/african_imperial_wizard/wishlist
Less obscure but definitely underrated bands that deserve more praise:
Sad Lovers & Giants (UK): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l2vLfJUnjTdXUHQvC5g_ofkzTa...
The Sound (UK): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lk8syCyg_HPjn5u9ENn5wUzy16...
And Also the Trees (UK): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHP7bAjOIkpD2iLw5PRcOfK1A5caaqtgX
The Comsat Angels (UK): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLy4u88AKUauLY0NgN2xQcYwtWRRjfZdFw
The Chameleons (UK): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_ny12adslzhdxwRfVLt7zDnky2y...
The Danse Society (UK): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_l05346LSJ0oGJWPqiRC2C9y8sU...
The Wake (UK): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kpPFzV5NriLJ1Df80g2h3Y_Zrk...
Lowlife (UK): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nW02PlT5ZOlcRwGQ108gK7wVhy...
The Teardrop Explodes (UK): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nim20KKKlqvEhv6xz5aWJQH7sg...
Pink Turns Blue (DE): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_k5GS6nBzgvA0ElkloheLDGTW7X...
Clan of Xymox (NL): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kdf13pLOud7iRoG44Q4mtuAroh...
Grauzone (CH): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_ksLApk2CVBawXJ3ez618i1dQvt...
Siekiera (PL): https://youtu.be/XxVPUwr0Z3Q
1984 (PL): https://youtu.be/JiuNEuZZQxY
Mizar (MK): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lVsjGeGc2YnUTGACJYfQJ8NcOl...
Pekinška Patka (RS): https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kZENTw2cwIspPclE8Cz6q6ky_C...
Borghesia (SI): https://youtu.be/ECBx82CXlXE