In Cold War-era France, far from the lights of the capital, a band emerged that would later become a cult phenomenon: Asylum Party. Hailing from the small banlieue of Plaisir (Yvelines), west of Paris, this French band crafted a dark and introspective sound that would cement its status as the most influential coldwave group of all time.
Between 1985 and 1990, the band — originally formed by Philippe Planchon and Thierry Sobézyk — released a series of albums that now circulate as collector’s items: Picture One (1988), Borderline (1989), and Mère (1990), all issued under the Lively Art label. Initially a duo, Asylum Party expanded with the arrival of Pascale Macé on synthesizers for their second album. With her, they recorded Borderline and Mère, enriching their dark sonic palette with denser, more immersive electronic textures.
The
formula was flawless: melancholic guitars, atmospheric synths, shadowy
basslines, and icy drum machines. Asylum Party laid the groundwork
for what we now recognize as coldwave. Lyrics from tracks
like Julia, Play Alone, or La Tourmente explored
themes of loss, silence, and existential angst—without slipping into melodrama
or excess. The band wrote songs in both English and French, with Planchon and
Sobézyk alternating as lead vocalists.
Decades
later, Asylum Party's legacy is being rediscovered by new generations.
On YouTube, their songs garner thousands of plays on channels devoted to the
dark music scene. On Discogs, their original vinyl releases go for over €200,
and reissues by Deanwell Global Music sell out quickly, only to be resold at
exorbitant prices. Their music is now heard in DJ sets or compilations within the dark
alternative scene and continues to influence contemporary bands such as Twin
Tribes, She Past Away, Lebanon Hanover, and Molchat Doma—all inheritors of the coldwave
spirit that Asylum Party helped define.
At a time when vinyl has resurfaced as a symbol of cultural authenticity, bands like Asylum Party are regaining unexpected prominence despite having retired more than three decades ago. It's not just the return of coldwave, but their regional legacy, once marginal, has become canon and crossed borders.
Today, Asylum Party represents an alternative way of understanding music as timeless art. From the margins of 1980s France, this band continues to whisper in our ears as if time stood still. Once again, the ghosts of the past find their way to the surface.
