Obscure bands

bondmanp,

   Genre? In the 80s I would have said they were 'alternative' but that label has now been co-opted by a sound I wouldn't really associate with any of these. I suppose I've heard about half played (one time or another) on college stations, but I doubt any are standard fare. In brief:
 
And Also the Trees--distinctly romantic guitars, sometime melodramatic, toured with The Cure
Angels of Light--much quieter, more jangly project from the Swans (loud, rock)
Coil--dark industrial ambient
Galaxie 500--fuzzy, relaxed, proto-indie-pop
In Gowan Ring--hippy folksy flower children music
Labradford--slow & drony ambient
Lowlife--lush & dreamy Scottish band featuring the original bassist from the Cocteau Twins
Miranda Sex Garden--their first album was all madrigals, then they picked up some modern instruments...
Outhud--Brooklyn/Oakland hipster dance punk with a harp
Pram--fun 90s pop, like I'd imagine a happy upbeat Portishead
Silver Apples--very early (60s) synthesizer based band with Can -like rhythm
David Sylvian--more progressive output from the singer from Japan (band that heavily influenced Duran Duran)
Talk Talk--had their share of 80s pop hits, but its their last two albums that really shine (sued by EMI for not being commercial enough)
Jozef Van Wissem--modern lutist
Zelienople--very recent discovery--avant-garde indie rock from Chicago

Also (already listed by czarivery):

This Mortal Coil--covers from the members of classic 4AD bands
Tuxedomoon--neo-classically inspired 80s synth-pop with violin, clarinet, trumpet & performance artist

OK, so here's three from the NYC punk/new wave club scene ca. 1980 - 

Anyone remember The Shirts?  Lead singer Annie Golden later starred in Milos Foreman's film version of "Hair", IIRC.

Then there was a San Francisco (?) band called Medium Medium with their big song "Hungry, So Angry".

And let's not forget the immortal Love Tractor, maybe from Boston?

A little later on, on the cow-punk bar circuit we got "Momma's Big Iron Skillet", who were great and had some really funny lyrics.  Later still, came BR5-49, from Austin, IIRC.  Along with some great original material, they were the mother of all request taking cover bands.

BTW,

Good list from Bdp (as usual), tho a few of those are a little less obscure than this thread demands, IMO.  However, I'll give you props on the Graham Gouldman/Andrew Gold collaboration.  Who knew?

A few bands I'd like to see get more recognition...one defunct, two still recording.

No longer active:  The Standard...check out a fine trilogy of albums by them:  Wire Post to Wire; Swimmer; Albatross.

Still active:  Nada Surf...been around a while.  Have been enjoying, The Stars Are Indifferent to Astronomy; also their, You Know Who You Are.

Also active:  Me Without You.   Try, Pale Horses; Catch For Us the Foxes; or Brother, Sister.  Great album art too.  

marty, love tractor was actually an athens ga band, tho sounding nothing like rem--great stuff nonethteless. your reference triggered recall of some other mostly-forgotten athens bands like pylon and swimming pool qs, who still sound pretty contemporary.
staying south, i'll toss in two alabama (mississipi?) jangly guitar bands of particular merit, the primitons and carnival season; both on spotify and well worth checking out