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
Mixed Up cover

Mixed Up

The Cure
In Debt cover

In Debt

Disco Inferno
VIVISectVI cover

VIVISectVI

Skinny Puppy
Heaven Up Here cover

Heaven Up Here

Echo & the Bunnymen
Gothic Halloween cover

Gothic Halloween

Various Artists
Hyæna cover

Hyæna

Siouxsie & the Banshees
Porcupine cover

Porcupine

Echo & the Bunnymen
Learning to Walk cover

Learning to Walk

The Boo Radleys