Skeletal Family - The Singles Plus 1983-85

The Singles Plus 1983–85 is a definitive anthology by English gothic rock and post-punk band Skeletal Family, capturing their most influential creative era. Originally compiled on CD by Anagram Records / Cherry Red in 1994, the 17-track retrospective gathers the group's early independent singles, 12" extended cuts, rare demos, and select EPs. The tracks trace their sonic evolution from their Keighley, West Yorkshire origins—where they ran in the same dark, brooding alternative circles as The Sisters of Mercy and Southern Death Cult—up through their peak commercial independent success.

The compilation prominently features the soaring, ethereal vocals of frontwoman Anne-Marie Hurst laid over punchy post-punk basslines, jagged guitar work, and atmospheric synths. Standout highlights include their celebrated debut single "Trees", the club-favourite gothic masterpiece "She Cries Alone", and their highest-charting indie single "Promised Land". This collection remains a crucial time capsule of the 1980s UK deathrock and goth subculture, preserving essential studio moments right before Hurst's departure to form Ghost Dance.

The Singles Plus 1983-85 stands as a vital, dark-hued time capsule of the UK's second-wave gothic rock movement, specifically capturing the northern post-punk boom centered around West Yorkshire. Released in 1994 by Anagram Records, this 17-track compilation acts as a definitive showcase for Skeletal Family, a band that ran alongside The Sisters of Mercy but brought a faster, more propulsive energy to the scene. By aggregating early independent 7" records, extended 12" club mixes, and raw demo sessions, the release highlights a group operating at their peak creative velocity just before fractures led to their mid-80s dissolution.

Musically, the compilation functions on a brilliant juxtaposition of bleak atmospheric dread and highly danceable, rhythmic urgency. While many of their peers favored a somber, slow-marching gloom, Skeletal Family thrived on a foundation of fast, circular basslines, frantic tribal drumming, and spidery, metallic guitar lines. This formula transforms tracks like "Trees" and "She Cries Alone" into masterclasses of early deathrock, balancing an overwrought sense of melodrama with convincing, razor-sharp rock instrumentation. The inclusion of early demos further reveals how quickly the band refined their identity, transitioning seamlessly from rudimentary post-punk into a polished independent force.

The indisputable center of gravity across these 17 tracks is frontwoman Anne-Marie Hurst, whose soaring, theatrical vocals elevate the material beyond standard genre tropes. Hurst’s performance balances an ethereal, otherworldly mystique with a commanding, sharp delivery that slices straight through the dense fog of the instrumentation. Her distinct style anchors the driving intensity of "Promised Land"—the band's highest-charting indie anthem—and breathes a surreal, gothic theatricality into unexpected moments, such as their surprisingly fierce, psychobilly-tinged cover of Neil Hefti’s "Batman" theme.

Ultimately, The Singles Plus 1983-85 remains an essential addition to any alternative rock library because it treats these rare singles not as historical footnotes, but as highly potent standalone pieces. Acknowledging the original CD pressing's minor audio-track mix-up on track 15, the recent double-vinyl reissues by Graveface Records have beautifully restored the collection’s clarity. For fans of brooding rhythms, sharp hooks, and classic eyeliner-and-lace post-punk, this compilation remains an exhilarating, essential window into a bygone era of underground British music.

Ripped to MP3

1. Trees

2. Just a Friend

3. The Night

4. Waiting Here

5. She Cries Alone

6. The Wind Blows

7. Eternal

8. Waiting Here (Alternative Version)

9. The Night (Alternative Version)

10. So Sure

11. Batman

12. Lies

13. Promised Land (12" Version)

14. Stand by Me (Ben E. King cover)

15. Puppet

16. Waltz

17. Guilt

Note: Early French and UK CD pressings feature a manufacturing quirk where Track 15 is listed as "Puppet" but accidentally plays a repeat of "She Cries Alone".

Bonus Tracks from '86

1. Restless

2. What Goes Up

3. Split Him In Two

4. Just A Minute

5. Big Love