"Goth" was a much maligned '80s genre, often deserved thanks to overtly gloomy pretentiousness, but just as often artistic, dark, bracing music. In addition to those outfits that still keep it going, this double CD is smart enough to include some of the long forgotten, unsung English practitioners who left behind stunning moments, folks such as UK Decay (see their brilliant singles and 1981 LP For Madmen Only), Theatre of Hate (too bad no "Westworld" or "Nero" here), Play Dead (thought no one remembered them!) and even Southern Death Cult (who became internationally famous a few years later when they changed their name from Death Cult to the Cult). One imagines Cleopatra couldn't get the rights to include such seminal bands as the Cure or Sisters of Mercy, but those groups don't need this kind of introduction, and the omission of the March Violets aside, this is an intelligently selected guide. Granddaddy Bauhaus are here (with their finest moment, "Dark Entries," one of the first 4AD singles 13-years-prior), as are spin-off band Tones on Tail (no Love and Rockets, sorry), as are the Banshees-ish 4AD band XMal Deutschland and post-Sisters men-in-black-hats Fields of the Nephilim (no Mission UK, and we miss Red Lorry Yellow Lorry), Irish extremists Virgin Prunes, and glossy gloomists Danse Society. You can probably do without reliving Bat-Cave crap Specimen and Alien Sex Fiend or wimpy wheezers Gene Loves Jezebel, but overall this sturdy 24-band history is a second-chance eye-opener.

Review by Jack Rabid, Allmusic.com