It’s interesting that Cherry Red have chosen to place Sunglasses After Dark among its goth reissues, as the band were always notoriously difficult to pigeonhole. After forming in 1981, in North West London, the quartet found themselves tagged variously as psychobilly, post-punk and, yes, goth, but the truth was that elements of each were discernible in their unsettling rhythms, bizarre lyrics and Bailie’s unhinged vocals. Apparently they were also involved with the anarchopunk scene for a while, but we can’t find any traces of that in their sound.
Sunglasses After Dark’s chaotic approach to their art meant their career was somewhat chequered, but they built a big fan-base, attracted by their crazed, theatrical live shows and, eventually, played prestigious venues such as the Lyceum and toured with the likes of King Kurt and Sex Gang Children.
All these facts and more are revealed in fiddle player Simon Cohen’s sleevenotes for this, the only Sunglasses album, recorded live at the Hoxton Blue Note Club and mixed at the venue straight after the gig. Sadly, after touring the album they split up in late 1984. This is a worthwhile testimony to a seriously strange and fiercely original band.
