Leading up to World Goth Day, DJ Abbie is giving you a dose of variations of goth every day this week. She’s kicking things off with an essential cut from The Birthday Party’s own Rowland S. Howard.
While often associated with post-punk, there’s an unmistakable goth-ness to the landmark Australian musician’s work. “Autoluminescent,” a standout track from Howard’s debut Teenage Snuff Film, contorts and twists in a bluesy haze. It’s a highlight of the tender, personal side of goth. Howard’s voice shakes as he sings “Into the dark darkness, I gave away myself.”
The mournful ballad is one of the most personal, candid songs of Howard’s career. It’s an ode to the darkness, the fighting of ego in our last moments, and perhaps even finding some peace at the end. Tragically, Howard passed away in 2009 at the age of 50 from liver cirrhosis. - Dusty Henry
