Peter Murphy spent much of last year on tour, revisiting his 35-year-old back catalogue by performing songs from his Bauhaus days. If there was an ounce of uncertainty that drove him to double back and exhume his past in such a way, his new record, Lion, doesn't let any of that on. This, his tenth solo release, is big, bold and the best Murphy's been in years.
He sounds reinvigorated, which is likely due to the involvement of producer Youth, who lends a hand in helping craft these industrial opuses. Murphy is still the star, however, as these songs attest. "The Ghost of Shokan Lake" is more or less Murphy repeating the song's title, but by god does he sing that phrase for all its worth. So much of this record hinges on his voice, which he is perfectly content and capable of using to carry the songs.
(Nettwerk)He sounds reinvigorated, which is likely due to the involvement of producer Youth, who lends a hand in helping craft these industrial opuses. Murphy is still the star, however, as these songs attest. "The Ghost of Shokan Lake" is more or less Murphy repeating the song's title, but by god does he sing that phrase for all its worth. So much of this record hinges on his voice, which he is perfectly content and capable of using to carry the songs.