Burning The Ground Exclusive

Happy Halloween, everyone!

For the final installment of this year’s Spooky Season Spins, I wanted to do something a little different. Instead of featuring another individual 12-inch single, I’ve put together a special compilation called “Burning The Ground: Dark Side Of The Dance Floor.”

This nearly two-hour collection brings together 18 tracks of dark new wave, gothic rock, post-punk, industrial, and synthpop from the 1980s.

Every track in this compilation comes from a previous Burning The Ground vinyl post. These are recordings I’ve already shared on the blog, but I thought Halloween would be the perfect opportunity to revisit some of my favorites and bring them together in one collection.

One of the things I’ve always loved about ’80s alternative dance music is how easily it can shift from something haunting and atmospheric to something powerful enough to fill a dance floor. The darker side of the decade gave us some incredible records, filled with icy synthesizers, pounding electronic rhythms, sinister vocals, and unforgettable melodies.

I didn’t want to put together a collection of the usual Halloween novelty songs. Instead, I wanted to capture the feeling of walking into a dark, smoke-filled underground club sometime in the 1980s, where you never quite knew what the DJ would play next.

The collection opens with the dramatic “Pimpf” by Depeche Mode, followed by Propaganda’s mysterious and unsettling “Dr. Mabuse.” From there, we move through Fad Gadget, Kirlian Camera, Xymox, The Cure, Siouxsie & The Banshees, and Killing Joke.

As the compilation progresses, the atmosphere shifts toward the darker electronic sounds of Peter Murphy, Cabaret Voltaire, I Start Counting, Anne Clark, and Front 242.

Naturally, Ministry’s “(Every Day Is) Halloween” had to make an appearance. After all, what would a collection like this be without one of the most recognizable alternative Halloween anthems?

I’ve also included Dead Or Alive’s wonderfully sinister “Something In My House,” Soft Cell’s haunting “Martin,” and Duran Duran’s atmospheric “Secret Oktober.”

The collection closes with Depeche Mode’s short but eerie “Interlude #1 (Mission Impossible),” bringing everything to a fitting end.

Although these recordings have all appeared on Burning The Ground before, I spent considerable time putting this collection together. I carefully selected the running order, adjusted the levels, and worked on the spacing and transitions so the songs would sound good together.

Rather than treating this as a continuous DJ mix, I wanted to preserve each individual recording while creating a listening experience that flows naturally from beginning to end.

For longtime visitors, I hope this collection brings back memories of some favorite Burning The Ground posts. For newer readers, perhaps it will introduce you to a few recordings you missed the first time around. You can always explore the archives to find the original vinyl posts.

Most of all, I hope it captures a little of the atmosphere and excitement of those alternative dance floors that made the 1980s such a special time for music.

So turn down the lights, turn up the volume, and enjoy a trip to the dark side of the dance floor.

Thank you for spending another Spooky Season with me here at Burning The Ground.

Have a safe and happy Halloween!

-DJPaulT

TRACKLISTING:

Depeche Mode – Pimpf 4:02

Propaganda – Dr. Mabuse (13th Life Mix) 6:37

Fad Gadget – For Whom The Bells Toll III 9:24

Kirlian Camera – Ocean (Extended Version) 7:02

Xymox – Obsession (Club Mix) 6:40

The Cure – Lullaby (Extended Remix) 7:46

Siouxsie & The Banshees – Peek-A-Boo (Silver Dollar Mix) 10:00

Killing Joke – Love Like Blood (Gestalt Mix) 5:08

Peter Murphy – Final Solution (Third & Final Mix) 5:54

Cabaret Voltaire – Sensoria 7:58

I Start Counting – Million Headed Monster (Listen Mix) 9:54

Anne Clark – Our Darkness (Remix) 6:28

Front 242 – Headhunter (V1.0) 5:05

Ministry – (Every Day Is) Halloween 6:36

Dead Or Alive – Something In My House (Mortevicar Mix) 7:03

Soft Cell – Martin 10:17

Duran Duran – Secret Oktober 2:48

Depeche Mode – Interlude #1 (Mission Impossible) 0:40

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: BTG Records – HAUNT4
Format: 18 x File, Stereo
Country: US
Released: Oct 30, 22026
Genre: Electronic
Style: New Wave, Goth Rock, Synthpop, Industrial

CREDITS:
Mastering – DjPaulT
Artowrk – DjPaulT

NOTES:
All tracks taken from the original BTG vinyl transfers
Compiled by DjPaulT for BURNING THE GROUND
Artwork DjPaulT

Special thanks to the original remixers and producers.

**ALL three download buttons are for 16-bit 44 kHz. ** 

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Ject Tube Box DS2
Phono Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
Audio Interface: MOTU M4
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Cleaning Solution: Turgikleen Record Cleaning Solution
Scanner: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 25 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

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Password: burningtheground

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