There was a time I often call my ‘Batcave period’. I started getting interested in 80s music, above all the darker part. This side has many names: postpunk, new wave, batcave, blah blah. I suck at genres, I find it hard (and unnecessary) to strictly divide music. Therefore I often refer to that music and my liking of it as the Batcave period, or post punk. Gothic is a term I don’t like using, because most people have a very different view on what that is then the people who listen to ‘real’ gothic music. If you’re not sure what it is, then you’re probably wrong. I could write posts and posts about that, but not today.

If you wonder why it’s also called Batcave: that was a club in London, often considered the birthplace of the goth subculture. Via this genre I came across some very interesting and cool music. For some you have to be open-minded, other music is sometimes quite well-known (The Cure, The Smiths) and some music is just unknown and underrated. You wouldn’t even call it gothic if you heard it – I’m not sure if it’s even called gothic. It doesn’t matter. I’ve found interesting music thanks to my Batcave period and that’s what matters.

The song I would like to share is Avatar by Dead Can Dance. Their band name refers to instruments, ‘dead wood’, that can still dance when they’re being played. Just so you don’t think of zombies and dead bodies. ‘Avatar’ has nothing to do with the song. I don’t know why that’s the title. Are the lyrics even sung in a real language?

It doesn’t matter. This song doesn’t need explanation. For some reason it’s very emotional and powerful and special. I like it a lot. Also: the beat somehow makes me want to dance. Music that makes me wants to move is good music to me.

Please be open-minded and listen, perhaps twice. It’s not what you’d call gothic. It’s special and great – I hope you can agree.