Psyche

by David JeffriesCombining synth pop and goth rock, Psyche built a solid fan base in Europe and a cult following in the rest of the world with their combination of drama and melody. Formed in 1982 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, brothers Darrin and Stephen Huss (or Evan Panic and Anthony Red as they liked to be called at the beginning) combined their love of horror, electronic music, and punk's D.I.Y. attitude and set out as Psyche. Demos got them an opening slot on Alien Sex Fiend's tour of Europe in 1984. French label New Rose approached the duo for an album, and Psyche delivered the self-produced Insomnia Theatre, released in 1985. Good reviews in the European press and an opening slot for Suicide set the band up for the successful follow-up, Unveiling the Secret, which included two tracks that would become goth-club staples: "Prisoner to Desire" and the title track. A headlining tour of Europe followed and their third album, Mystery Hotel, appeared in 1987. Darrin moved to Montreal and worked with the industrial band Vanishing Heat. Keyboardist David Kristian took Stephen's place for the 1989 album The Influence, and stayed with the band for 1990's Tales From the Darkside and 1991's Daydream Avenue, which included the big club hit, "Angel Lies Sleeping." By this time, the band had become a favorite of the popular, subscription-only DJ remix service Razormaid, a relationship that gave Psyche a healthy presence in edgy clubs. Kristian left and Stephen Huss rejoined the band in 1992 and helped his brother compile the 69 Minutes of History collection. Darrin had moved to Germany while Stephen was still in Canada, so Psyche's future was uncertain. Darrin formed Inside in 1999 with former members of the Eternal Afflict, but after a tour, Inside split. Stephen was out again when Darrin reformed Psyche with new keyboardist Per-Anders Kurenbach and released Strange Romance in 1996 and Love Among the Ruined in 1998. The 2000 compilation Misguided Angels included three unreleased tracks from the Kurenbach era along with the group's hard-to-find version of "Goodbye Horses," a song originally used for the character Buffalo Bill's dancing scene in The Silence of the Lambs. Kurenbach was out and new keyboardist Remi Szyszka was in for Sanctuary and The Hiding Place, both released in 2001. The remix collection Endangered Species appeared in 2002 and was followed a year later by an album of new material, Babylon Deluxe. American label Metropolis Records released the career-spanning collection, Legacy, in 2004, giving Psyche more exposure on their home continent than they had experienced since forming.