Shriekback

British outfit Shriekback is not an easy band to classify, as their music ranges from mutant funk to contemplative art rock. Early releases like 1983's Care combined synthesizers and drum machines with throbbing bass lines and unorthodox vocals. The title of their fourth album, 1986's Big Night Music, might be the most succinct summation of their work: the group's music has always been an appropriate soundtrack for life in the dark, but with the emphasis on the possibilities rather than the dangers. Though often haunting, their sound is not gothic and harbors strains of pop and dance that rise to the surface. Following 1988's more accessible Go Bang!, the group returned to a more experimental sound with 1992's Sacred City. Shriekback have remained highly active several decades into their career, releasing archival concerts as well as studio full-lengths such as 2010's Life in the Loading Bay and 2025's Monument.