80s New Wave — Dance Night at the Temple

THE VIBE:

Strictly New Wave / Post-Punk / Synth-Pop / Darkwave

Conclusion

By: Adrian Ryde, RetroSynth Archives

for a "Volume 1" or "Volume 2" style compilation based on these genres?

You found the venue down a narrow alleyway in the part of the city where the streetlights hummed with an audible electric buzz. It was an old repurposed Masonic lodge, or perhaps a former church—the locals just called it "The Temple." It smelled of old velvet, spilled beer, and the distinct, ozone-heavy scent of overheating amplifiers.

: They attract a dedicated following of "trad goths," post-punk enthusiasts, and those nostalgic for the 80s club scene.

1. The Hardware: Do not use your phone speaker. Hook up an old stereo receiver. If you have a tube amp, use it. The warmth hides the coldness of the synthesizers.
2. The Lighting: Total darkness, except for one rotating strobe light or, failing that, a lava lamp. If you have a projector, cast a slow-moving video of rain on a window.
3. The Substance: Black coffee, cheap lager, or nothing at all—the adrenaline of the bassline is enough.
4. The Volume: It must be loud enough to vibrate the dust off your ceiling fan. "Conversation level" is not acceptable.