othic Fringes

The second section is of bands that have material that could be called Goth, but not necessarily any period of work in particular, bands that touch on the fringes of Goth or bands that should interest fans of  Gothic Music. Discography is limited their Goth-tinged work.

Abecedarians Defunct US
Area Defunct US (literati/me)
  Steve Jones(ex-the Arms of Someone New) joined with Lynn Canfield to form Area. Area crafted spooky little pop songs, with Lynn's voice soaring over Steve's many-layered guitars, ala Robin Guthrie of Cocteau Twins. Lynn went onto form the Moon Seven Times with Henry Frayne.
the Cassandra Complex Active UK
  The Cassandra Complex's music generally leans towards the industrial/techno/EBM side of things. But Theomania hits that fringe area  quite nicely. Currently living in Hamburg.
the Chameleons Defunct UK
  Kinda in the same spot Echo and the Bunnymen are in. Kinda Goth, but to much of a pop band at heart. Members went on to form the Reegs, the Sun & the Moon, and Weaveworld.
Chrome Defunct US (Ayse)
    Chrome was a popular synthesizer noise band from the 1980's, but sadly, they seem to have been all but forgotten now.  Their work, along with that of bands like Portion Control and Nocturnal Emissions, was an important influence on later aggro synth bands like Skinny Puppy, and for good
reason:  these guys manipulated Moogs in ways that were years ahead of their time.  Their style changes from record to record:  earlier albums are noisy, grinding, and experimental, while later ones are slightly dancier and creepier.  Damon Edge and Helios Creed, the two members of Chrome, both went on to solo careers after Chrome's demise;  Edge's work sounds much like Chrome,
including his characteristically twisted vocals (most of the time he sounds like he's singing from
inside a giant lead pipe). Records like Into the Eyes of the Zombie King and Third From the Sun should be gothic classics;  it's a shame that they aren't.
the Church  Active AUS.
  Poetic enough to be Goth, but lilting guitar pop at heart, perhaps a gentler aspect of what REM have become. The Persia EP. and the Blurred Crusade LP are recommended to Goths.
Cindytalk Active UK
ClockDVA Active UK
  Mostly the LP, advantage.
Cocteau Twins Active UK
  Shimmery pop that often evokes melancholy moods, despite Liz Frazier's penchant for simply shaping sounds instead of writing actual lyrics. Start at the Pink Opaque and go from there.
Coil Active UK
  Coil more readily fall under the industrial category, if only because none of the band really know how  to play an instrument as such. But, their ambient works, in particular How to Destroy Angels, are genre-bending and defy pat labels like Goth, or Industrial.
Concrete Blonde Active US
  Guitar-based alternative rock, whatever that means these days. Blood-letting (LP 1990) generally gets lumped in with the Goth fringes, mainly on the basis of the title song which was inspired by Anne Rice's  Vampire books. Goth in the same way that the Gun Club are Goth.
Controlled Bleeding Active US
  Another industrial band that feels no need to be bound by their main genre's limitations. Mind pummeling one minute, gentle lullaby's the next. 'Songs from the Ashes' or 'Buried Blessings' are a good place to start.
the Cranes Active UK (Ayse)  Website  2
  Led by the brother and sister team James and Allison Shaw, Cranes have made quite a name for themselves over the past few years (especially in the U.K.).  Cranes' innovative use of guitars, along with Allison's positively unique voice, set them apart from much of the other "ethereal" female-led bands that are recording nowadays.  They layer guitar with the skill of Jane's Addiction or the Cure at their best;  the resulting sound can be reminiscent of a richer Twin Peaks soundtrack at times, and maybe even  early Jesus and Mary Chain at others (though Cranes rarely use feedback as an instrument).  The thing that makes this band totally distinctive, however, is Allison.  Her voice, described by some observant soul as that of "a baby trapped in a metal toolbox", is high-pitched, sugary, and downright *eerie*.  The lyrics are often hard to make out, but they are generally obsessive, intense, and full of wonder... the way that Allison's lost-child vocals meander through the music are utterly enchanting.  Highly
recommended, though I would describe this band as an acquired taste. Recommended LP: Forever
the Creatures Active UK
  Siouxsie and Budgie of the Banshees on holiday. The first LP [feast] was recorded in Hawaii is infused with Polynesian rhythms. The second [boomerang] was recorded in Spain is similarly infusing with Latin rhythms. Either is a good place to start, tho boomerang is probably easier to find in the US.
Curve Active UK
  Toni Halliday could be a Goth-goddess for all time if she'd just stop posing in front of a that band doesn't have anything to distinguish it from the competition other than her presence.
the Damned Defunct UK
  More punk and pop opportunists than Goths, but Dave Vanian's wardrobe has fooled many. Any of the albums from 80-1986 is a good choice.
Dancing Did Defunct UK
Delerium Active CAN
    A Front Line Assembly offshoot with Bill Leeb and Rhys Fulber doing a very creditable job of
ambient Goth.
the Drowning Pool Defunct US now called Mumbles
Echo & the Bunnymen Active UK
  Another of those fringe bands. Their music is frequently bleak and depressing, and Ian McCulloch desperately wants to be Jim Morrison, but this does not a Goth band make. The attitude is missing. Nearly Goth is a close as they get.
45 Grave Defunct US
  Pioneers in the early 80's Death Rock scene.
Frazier Chorus Active UK
  Also in the much the same position as Echo, bleakly depressing pop music, but it's still more pop than Goth. But Sloppy Heart comes *so* close to being goth, you might be fooled.