Goth Times

eery autumnal listening

When October began, I was in Oregon, visiting family and friends. The temperature stayed in the 20s (or 80s, Fahrenheit) pretty much the whole week. On one hike, I wore shorts, and still sought shade along the way. Aside from the very earliest of Halloween porch decorations, there was virtually no sign that autumn was impending.

Berlin, on the other hand, was already well into fall mode by the time I got back. This might be the best time of year to see the city. The trees, of which there are many, burst into yellow, orange, and red all at once. Even the hulking concrete buildings that comprise the city centre, which will look so grey and grim come January, seem aesthetically acceptable amongst such splendid leafy decor. Cycling around town is neither too hot nor too cold. Neither are morning runs.

But said mornings take longer to light up, and the evenings dim far faster, than they have in many months. Our daylight savings is this weekend, so then the nights will start even earlier. And from then on it will only be a few short weeks until the last of the colour and fair weather fade out, and Christmas markets suddenly burst up everywhere.

For now, I am trying to savour this little pocket of time between baking in the sun and baking Christmas cookies. Because despite my summer tan, my penchant for bright attire, and my American compulsion to smile politely at everyone I encounter, I carry a tiny black ember of Goth in my heart. And this is the gothiest time of year - during which some part of my brain can’t help but entertain the idea that the encroaching darkness just might contain monsters and fairies, with whom we might all dance off into the night if we so desired.

Creating a soundtrack fitting to this fleeting season has proven far harder than I expected. Too many glorious options to choose from. And putting so many intense, weird moods into an order with any kind of flow to it has taken ages. There were some brutal cuts (“Just one Virgin Prunes song? I can’t do it. I can’t!”). There were also some surprising last-minute additions. You’ll see a couple of goth classics, and some that aren’t goth per se, but were too witchy to keep out.

You can find the full mix here or here:

I recommend listening on headphones, so as not to miss the full, thrumming textures of these tunes. On the other hand, if you’re feeling sociable this week, get those speakers out, as this is a fully-loaded Hallows’ Eve party playlist. Either way, I hope you enjoy it, and that you’ll send me suggestions of other songs you think ought to be added.