In general, it's better to have less of something (outboard, instruments, amplifiers, microphones) but of very high quality, rather than a bunch of crappy ones.

People mentioned gear, that's fine but mostly a matter of taste. What you need, the things you cannot fake, are (in order of importance)
1) WORKING equipment. Broken or half-working gear is extremely frustrating. Fix it or get it the fuck out of my face.
2) enough physical space
3) a few good mics

Orcas are obviously goths. Can you imagine one doing a half diminished harmonic minor sweep picking lick on an Ibanez? No, that would be ridiculous. Because they're goths.

And lastly, for now, here's a cover I did of Ceremony with an AI model for Ian Curtis voice. I know AI is passe (and I'm glad) but doing this scratched an itch for me. I may do 'In a lonely place'...

More video essays to come.

youtu.be/WErgCoo8pns?...

I made a video talking through some of the techniques I use to approximate the sounds of the records.

youtu.be/-qSL_o7Gcoo?...

So when I say multidisciplinary and OCD, this is what I mean...

A track I made using as many of Hannett's sonic tricks and Joy Division Tropes as I could muster.

I call it Joy Div Lite.

youtu.be/SlMHDjvNCGc?...

Most central to their sound was of course Martin Hannett, Factory's in house producer.

This was the first video I did on the subject.

youtu.be/EU72NBZ2akE?...

It wasn't just the band who had an influence over the cultural artefacts they left behind. The chairmen of Factory records were central. Here's a potted history.

youtu.be/ws4CR5CUpoc?...

This part is more abstract. It's about liminal spaces, physical and psychological. It touches on themes of mental health. They come with the territory.

youtu.be/VsqdQ9MdODs?...

I hate it when musicians literally meet, plug in and instantly sound like a record made in LA. I want 5 minutes of tuning up and bum notes with inadequate acoustics. Otherwise my suspension of disbelief is gone. The Commitments was the most heinous example but many others out there.

I mean I don't want to diss content but...

Andrew Preview!

Salty drinks are very underrated.

Thankyou. He was one of the people I was closest here and I think I've missed his funeral. Was almost pissed off with him for seeming to ghost me.

Soo goood.

My fave from that s/t

youtu.be/7OqnUiLUsqw?...

I hit that point in 1995 with britpop. I've rediscovered what the point of rock is and lost it a few times since.

Stimulant. Cheawable, makes you want to chew more and talk. Wouldn't have been banned were it not African IMO. I didn't love it but I'm not a stimulants fan in general.

I have a Squier bullet. Cheapest possible. Was 117€. Needed setting up which I did myself. My recommendation would be to go to a good physical store, get a squier and pay a little more to have it set up nicely. Much cheaper than fender. Use the rest for an amp and pedals.

Musk has managed to weaponise his various traumas (family, bullying (incl traumatic head injury)) into a potent blend that's soured a lot of milk.

King midas but with shit.