Eyes! China Doll cover

Eyes! China Doll

Recorded
Released

Edward Ka-Spel’s second solo album, 1985’s Eyes! China Doll, is one of his most intriguing, covering a variety of sonic approaches, from aggressive percussion to floating ambience to even a bit of reggae-informed rhythm, all while rich synth texturing and his ever-recognizable voice creates the feeling of rituals, sci-fi movie weirdness and general mystery. He finds space for some of his more extreme vocal approaches, thus the strangled screeches on “Avengelist,” while the lengthy “Hotel Blanc” is a striking multipart effort. Best song title, meanwhile: “Six Cats on a Dead Man’s Chest.”

Ned Raggett

Suggestions
Strange Free World cover

Strange Free World

Kitchens of Distinction
The Cure cover

The Cure

The Cure
Bird Wood Cage cover

Bird Wood Cage

The Wolfgang Press
m b v cover

m b v

My Bloody Valentine
Showtime cover

Showtime

Nitzer Ebb
Afrodisiac cover

Afrodisiac

The Veldt
Eastern Terrace cover

Eastern Terrace

The Sand Pebbles
Blood Music cover

Blood Music

Chapterhouse
Earthling cover

Earthling

David Bowie