I’ve bought a few brand new 2026 releases on CD — but my favourite (so far) is this compilation. I love the mixes ACE Records make. They have a great understanding of what creates a good compilation, and of course there’s liner notes, and essays and a “what’s next” and “if you like this/try this” aspect; the conversation can continue is the idea…
I bought this on a whim, because I wanted a topic for a Friday Substack newsletter not so long ago — so I’ve covered this already in some sense:
The Must-Have/Must-Heart Goth Divas Compilation
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Jul 23
Fortunately, as far as the image above anyway, I’ve never claimed to be goth, nor for that matter even tried. I own plenty of black t-shirts, but they’d drift almost towards metal, and also never quite get there either.
Been on a bit of a Goth trip of late, and a big Siouxsie binge, and one or two others. What I love most about this comp is the wide angle — Nina Simone and Billie Holiday and Karen Dalton. Not the first names you reach for when you think of Goth divas, but total informers of course.
And there’s so many other great names from all across — the ones you’d expect (Lydia Lunch et al) and some really nice surprises.
Also the surprise is around how they sit together so well — Cocteau Twins and The Shangri-Las. Yes please!
Who doesn’t love The Shangri-Las? Well, everyone should anyway!
This is my favourite compilation in ages, so well thought out, so many reminders and surprise-gems, and basically creates a whole new universe of obsessions and listening lists and future purchases (look out!)
It was my secret dream to make such compilations — as a side-hustle if not a major main gig — and of course there’s a million playlists, and I’ve probably made 570,000 of them. But it’s not the same is it.
The CD-length is key to a great playlist / mixtape I feel.
Here, for instance, some alternatives from the same universe:
So cool to have a CD open up a world like this — infinite new choices, but this finite selection sets it all up of course.
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