Crime & the City Solution: Architects of Post-Punk Atmosphere

Crime & the City Solution is an Australian post-punk band known for its cinematic sound and revolving lineup anchored by singer Simon Bonney. Formed in Sydney in 1977, the group's most significant achievement is its influential trilogy of albums recorded in 1980s Berlin, cementing its cult status within the international alternative scene.

Early career

The band's first incarnation was brief, forming in Sydney in 1977 and dissolving after a single, the stark These Immortal Souls, in 1978. Singer Simon Bonney relocated to London and revived the Crime & the City Solution name in 1984 with a new lineup that included his brother, guitarist Bronwyn Adams. This iteration signed to the UK independent label Red Flame and released the Just South of Heaven EP in 1985, establishing their brooding, blues-inflected post-punk sound.

Breakthrough

The band's breakthrough into wider critical acclaim came after relocating to West Berlin in 1986 and signing with the iconic independent label Mute Records. Their 1986 album Room of Lights and its follow-up, 1988's ShineWings of Desire, exposing their music to a global art-house audience.

Key tracks

The Dangling Man — This 1986 single defined the band's Berlin-era sound with its hypnotic rhythm and Bonney's dramatic vocal delivery.

Six Bells Chime — A brooding epic from the Shine album, it remains a cornerstone of their live performances and a fan favorite.

On Every Train (Grain Will Bear Grain) — This track from 1990's Paradise Discotheque showcases the band's shift towards a more expansive, rock-oriented approach.

The Adversary — The powerful opening track from their 2013 reunion album American Twilight, proving the potency of their signature sound decades later.

After the Paradise Discotheque cycle, Crime & the City Solution disbanded in 1991. Simon Bonney pursued a solo career before unexpectedly reforming the band in 2012 with a new international lineup. This resulted in the 2013 album American Twilight on Mute, followed by 2016's Girl on Fire, which received positive reviews for continuing their distinct atmospheric post-punk legacy.

For fans of the dense, moody textures of Crime & the City Solution, explore similar artists featured on our site like The Birthday Party, which shares the same Australian post-punk roots and confrontational intensity. The atmospheric work of Nick Cave And The Bad+Seeds offers a parallel journey in dark, narrative songwriting. The experimental guitar landscapes of The Sisters Of Mercy also resonate with their gothic-tinged approach.

The music of Crime & the City Solution maintains a steady presence on specialty radio formats, particularly on alternative rock radio stations and online post-punk streams that delve into music history. Independent music radio stations with a focus on 1980s alternative and curated classic alternative playlists frequently feature tracks from Room of Lights and Shine.

You can hear the distinctive post-punk of Crime & the City Solution on radio stations featured here on onairium.com. Listeners can discover their influential catalog through the dedicated alternative and classic rock stations available on our platform.