80s Forever

80s Forever is a commercial-free Swiss web radio playing rare 80s songs from 1978 to 1991, including new wave, gothic and indie. The slogan promises to keep the eighties alive, and the playlist does so with deep cuts and overlooked gems rather than the same dozen hits that most oldies stations repeat. Expect synth-pop, post-punk, darkwave, jangly indie guitar bands, Manchester-style rhythms and the atmospheric records that once filled alternative clubs, all arranged by people who clearly know the era.

The station is run from Switzerland as an independent project, with no commercial breaks, and it appeals to collectors and fans of the alternative side of the decade as well as to listeners who simply miss the music of their youth. The programme is almost entirely music, with brief identifications in English. It can be enjoyed in any country, and it is an excellent way to discover bands that never reached the mainstream. The stream is delivered as MP3 at 256 kbps, a high bitrate that gives the analogue synthesizers, basslines and guitars of the period a full, detailed sound, especially on good headphones. It plays in your browser on RadioKite without installing anything, and you can add it to your favourites.