Inside the Milky Way - A Look at Early Alternative Music

ITMW Music
  • 4.5 (6)
  • MUSIC HISTORY

A podcast that takes a look at the development of alternative music in the 80's with a focus on post-punk, electronic, dark wave, goth, synth, industrial, and indie genres. The podcast episodes feature stories, background, and discussions of artists, contributors, music, themes, and events of the early alternative era. The title of our podcast is based on the alternative song from 1988 by The Church, "Under the Milky Way".

  1. Chrome - Sonics of Another World

    4D AGO

    Chrome - Sonics of Another World

    Chrome was one of the more unusual alternative bands that arrived on the 70's San Francisco music scene.  Chrome’s music would often take on sci-fi themes while employing tape loops, distortion and overloaded acid rock guitar, found sounds from television, and whatever noise they could create with electronics.   These raw experimental and industrial sounds would be blended with elements from punk rock and psychedelia. The result of all of this would be a forerunner to industrial rock and noise rock of the 1980's. The band was founded by vocalist, drummer and keyboardist Damon Edge. After a debut album in 1976, Chrome added guitarist Helios Creed in 1977. With the pairing of Edge and Creed, Chrome became a cult band favorite with their next two albums, Alien Soundtracks and Half Machine Lip Moves.  Edge and Creed went separate directions in the mid-80's with Damon Edge continuing the band until he passed away in 1995. Helios Creed, who had been away from the group since the mid-80’s, revived Chrome and has continued the band with performances and release of new albums. This episode will discuss this band’s early years, their music, and the work of Chrome especially during the influential Edge and Creed years.

    31 min
  2. Blancmange - The Sweet Synth of Luscombe and Arthur

    OCT 5

    Blancmange - The Sweet Synth of Luscombe and Arthur

    Blancmange formed in London in 1979 behind vocalist Neil Arthur and instrumentalist Stephen Luscombe. On their way to becoming a classic synth-pop duo, they would take a more exotic approach to the music than others in the electropop field. Besides often creating eccentric dance rhythms and a comforting atmosphere, Blancmange would sometimes fuse synth with eastern influences as part of their music.  The band would create three studio albums in the early to mid-80’s before breaking up in 1986. The band would return in the 2000’s with a fourth album in 2011. However, Stephen Luscombe had to step away soon after due to health issues leaving Arthur to continue under the Blancmange name. Just last month, Stephen Luscombe passed away at the age of 70. This episode tell the story of how Luscombe and Arthur created the band, their music of the 80's, and the years the followed.

    24 min
  3. The Raincoats - Storming the Social Conscience

    SEP 28

    The Raincoats - Storming the Social Conscience

    In 1977 two art school students in London, Ana da Silva and Gina Birch, would start the post-punk band, The Raincoats. Not only did they develop an unusual sound and approach to music incorporating experimental and other elements, but this band also that took on social and political issues. The Raincoats would release their self-titled debut album in 1979 as an all-female band for this debut. The Raincoats would be one of the first bands to influence feminism and they would inspire generations of female fronted bands that came after.   The band would break up in 1984 following their third album, but the band’s influence in the 90’s on artists including Nirvana lead singer Kurt Cobain would inspire a reissue of their catalog and a rekindling of the group in 1993.   This episode will tell the story of the early years of the band, their impact on social issues, their music, and the chance meeting of Ana da Silva with Kurt Cobain that led to the reformation of The Raincoats.

    24 min
  4. Galaxie 500 - A Key to Slowcore

    SEP 21

    Galaxie 500 - A Key to Slowcore

    Galaxie 500 formed in Boston in 1987 and would deliver three studio albums before disbanding in 1991.  The creation from the band over this limited span was a mix of indie rock, dream pop, and neo-psychedelia using slow tempos and a minimalist approach. Much of this unique music would be a key to the development of the 90's sub-genre known as slowcore.  Their second album, On Fire, was the most influential of their work toward slowcore. Besides impacting the development of this genre, the music from Galaxie 500 would also influence artists and other music styles. Following the break-up of Galaxie 500 in 1991, lead singer and guitarist Dean Wareham would go on to form the band Luna.  In this podcast episode we will tell the story of the early years of Galaxie 500, the music and impact of the band, and the spin-off project Luna.

    25 min
  5. The Chameleons - Script of the Bridge and Beyond

    SEP 14

    The Chameleons - Script of the Bridge and Beyond

    The Chameleons released their debut studio album in 1983, the classic and one of the best of the era, Script of the Bridge.  This was followed by What Does Anything Mean? Basically in 1985 and Strange Times in 1986, completed an amazing trilogy of post-punk albums to start their career before they abruptly broke up in 1987. This Manchester, England band that formed in 1981 and was known for their atmospheric, layered guitar-based, post-punk sound became one of the most underrated and underappreciated band of the 1980s.  The Chameleons reformed a couple of times over the years, most recently in 2021. Following extensive touring, the band has just released a new studio album, Arctic Moon. In this podcast, we will tell the story of the early years of the band and their first three albums, along with the years that followed up through the new release.

    29 min
  6. Coil - The Experimental

    SEP 7

    Coil - The Experimental

    Coil was an English experimental group formed in 1982 by John Balance, who was soon joined by his Psychic TV bandmate and former original member of Throbbing Gristle, Peter Christopherson.  Over the years, Coil's work was very diverse exploring various themes including the occult, sexuality, and alchemy while crossing through musical boundaries, styles, and genres such as experimental electronic, industrial, minimalist, dark ambient, noise, and drone among many others.   After the release of their 1984 debut EP How to Destroy Angels, Coil's first album was Scatology in 1985 followed by Horse Rotorvator in 1986, an album considered as one of the most influential industrial records created. In addition to Balance and Christopherson, who were the only two consistent members of Coil, many contributors would join them over the years.  Following the accidental death of John Balance in 2004, Peter Christopherson would announce the end of the band. There would be one final album and the release of a number of older recordings and compilations. Peter Christopherson died in 2010. This podcast will tell the story of the band and their experimental work over their career, with a focus on the first two classic albums.

    30 min
  7. All About Eve - Folk Influenced Goth Rock

    AUG 31

    All About Eve - Folk Influenced Goth Rock

    After forming in the mid-1980's, the music of the English band All About Eve fell loosely into the UK goth rock scene. Over the next few years, the music would evolve into a more unique, folk-rock influenced style, all behind the beautiful voice and songwriting of lead singer Julianne Regan. All About Eve would create four studio albums beginning with the 1988 self-titled debut album that included the hit single "Martha's Harbour". Following the second studio album, guitarist Tim Bricheno left the band was was replaced by Marty Willson-Piper, long time member of The Church. After two albums with Willson-Piper, including one album with a guest appearance from David Gilmour, the band would end their initial run in 1993.   This podcast will talk about the early years of the band, the music of their albums through the 1992 fourth and final studio LP, and their subsequent years.

    27 min
  8. A Flock of Seagulls - Running in a Space Age Concept

    AUG 24

    A Flock of Seagulls - Running in a Space Age Concept

    The 1982 self-titled debut album from A Flock of Seagulls was one about extra-terrestrial invasion and alien abduction with themes of technology and space. This concept album blended synth-pop and post-punk while featuring atmospheric synthesizers, electronic sounds, chiming guitars, along with the iconic songs: "I Ran (So Far Away)" and "Space Age Love Song". A Flock of Seagulls' music and image, including the distinctive hair style along with innovative music videos, became synonymous with 1980s pop culture and the early years of MTV as the band helped to define and shape synth, dance and electronic music of the era.  This podcast episode will tell the story of the early years of the band, the success of the debut self-titled album, and the music the band created over their next couple of albums.

    24 min
See All (59)

Ratings & Reviews

4.5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

A podcast that takes a look at the development of alternative music in the 80's with a focus on post-punk, electronic, dark wave, goth, synth, industrial, and indie genres. The podcast episodes feature stories, background, and discussions of artists, contributors, music, themes, and events of the early alternative era. The title of our podcast is based on the alternative song from 1988 by The Church, "Under the Milky Way".

Information

  • Creator
    ITMW Music
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    59
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 ITMW Music

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