Attrition
Coventry-based project led by Martin Bowes, spent 40 years defining darkwave through collaborations featuring contrasting vocal styles—his gravelly throat against operatic voices like Emese Arvai-Illes and Elisa Day—and appeared on Projekt Records' earliest compilations. Bowes' collaborative approach meant giving structure to pieces then inviting others to interpret without excessive guidance: "I rarely offer too much guidance and just want to see how others interpret what I do." This hands-off philosophy resulted in a constantly evolving sound that reflected each collaborator's personality. Attrition became one of the scene's most consistent presences, releasing material across four decades without achieving mainstream success but maintaining devoted following.