Bauhaus Release Stellar Reunion Album "Go Away White"
-
Artist:
-
Album:
-
Track:
5:39 mins.A quarter-century is an extremely long time to wait before releasing a new album, but that’s just what Bauhaus has done. Go Away White has been released 25 years after the group’s last album, 1983’s Burning From the Inside. I doubt Peter Murphy and crew intended their fans to wait this long. But with their side projects, a follow-up album must have kept getting pushed aside. So the timing was finally right a year ago or so for all four members to start writing for a new album.The years have been kind to David J, Kevin Haskins, DanielAsh & Murphy. Originally, their music was considered underground and more obscure in the early ‘80s. Times have changed considerably with the advent of the Internet, and the evolution of musical genres have created a wider audience for their brand of gothic rock.
During their recording hiatus all four band members have kept themselves quite busy. Bauhaus had broken up, reunited and toured several times. Murphy went solo and Ash, Haskins and J formed Love and Rockets. Ash and Haskins also formed Tones On Tail and both J and Ash have released numerous solo albums.But the wait for Go Away White has been worth it; it’s an instant classic. The album rocks just as hard as any of its predecessors, and it’s an even more cohesive work than the Bauhaus albums of their youth. Too bad the group has announced that this album will be their last.Amazingly, Peter Murphy’s voice has not faded with time. He must have signed a deal with the devil for his vocals are as resonant and gorgeous as ever. But anyone who’s seen him live will know that his vocal talent is phenomenal. Murphy does all of the lead singing on these songs but the other members do some backup vocals as well.The first five songs on the album perfectly showcase Ash’s amazing, searing guitar work. These songs show a focus not seen on their previous albums. “Too Much 21st Century” talks about the difficulty of modern life and all it entails. Murphy, in his warbly baritone, rattles off a laundry list of items society wants better - “They all want to be something better. A better singer, a better actor, better job. Better money, better get her, better lover, better not. Too much rock, too much conceit, give me one religion (it‘s too much). Too much fashion information.” This message is driven across with the chunky, ringing guitar, funked-up bassline & Haskin’s heavy, tribal drumming.
Bauhaus in concert at the Brixton Academy in London, England, February 3, 2006. Photo taken by Pedro Figueiredo.“Adrenalin,” one of the album’s highlights, is a hugely rocking rave-up of a song, living up to its name. Murphy’s vocals are all over the map, starting with his reciting the German language and then singing in his low guttural Ziggy-era-Bowie voice. Then Murphy alternates between whispering and animal-like yelps. Ash ups the ante on the song by adding fuzzy, ragged guitar. J’s booming distorted bass and Haskins’ huge thrashing drums just heighten the musical drama.Things slow down considerably but no less compellingly on the second half of the album. “Saved” shows off Ash’s gorgeous, seductive saxophone as well as Haskins’ percussive maraca, Dead Can Dance-style drumming and a haunting intermittent bell. This song reminds me quite a bit of Murphy’s solo work.“The Dog’s a Vapour” is another highlight. The song slowly builds in intensity with pulsating and echoing industrial electronic keyboards as well as seething just under the surface ragged guitar. At the 4:11 mark, the song explodes with shards of Ash’s screeching guitar that sound almost like a police siren. Murphy wails and screams, doing his best banshee imitation. In keeping, it’s quite a dramatic song."Black Stone Heart"(not much of a vid but it's here for you to hear)“Black Stone Heart” picks up the pace for a bit between the two previously mentioned songs. It also encompasses the album’s title within its lyrics: “And now black is back and I seem out of sight. I go there with my darkness and go away white, go away white!” The song is exemplary of Bauhaus’s trademark sound with huge, catchy, raw guitar riffs; punchy, pounding bass; ethereal, atmospheric keyboards; and potent, slamming drums. Of course, Murphy leads the way with his seminal, bellowing yet gorgeous voice. It’s the stuff Bauhaus fans have dreamed of for decades.Go Away White is a mindblowingly great album. For those not familiar with Bauhaus, this is an excellent place to start. For the familiar, it’s an excellent place to start all over again appreciating one of the most influential post-punk bands of the '80s. Again, this album was definitely worth the wait.http://www.bauhausmusik.com/
During their recording hiatus all four band members have kept themselves quite busy. Bauhaus had broken up, reunited and toured several times. Murphy went solo and Ash, Haskins and J formed Love and Rockets. Ash and Haskins also formed Tones On Tail and both J and Ash have released numerous solo albums.But the wait for Go Away White has been worth it; it’s an instant classic. The album rocks just as hard as any of its predecessors, and it’s an even more cohesive work than the Bauhaus albums of their youth. Too bad the group has announced that this album will be their last.Amazingly, Peter Murphy’s voice has not faded with time. He must have signed a deal with the devil for his vocals are as resonant and gorgeous as ever. But anyone who’s seen him live will know that his vocal talent is phenomenal. Murphy does all of the lead singing on these songs but the other members do some backup vocals as well.The first five songs on the album perfectly showcase Ash’s amazing, searing guitar work. These songs show a focus not seen on their previous albums. “Too Much 21st Century” talks about the difficulty of modern life and all it entails. Murphy, in his warbly baritone, rattles off a laundry list of items society wants better - “They all want to be something better. A better singer, a better actor, better job. Better money, better get her, better lover, better not. Too much rock, too much conceit, give me one religion (it‘s too much). Too much fashion information.” This message is driven across with the chunky, ringing guitar, funked-up bassline & Haskin’s heavy, tribal drumming.Bauhaus in concert at the Brixton Academy in London, England, February 3, 2006. Photo taken by Pedro Figueiredo.“Adrenalin,” one of the album’s highlights, is a hugely rocking rave-up of a song, living up to its name. Murphy’s vocals are all over the map, starting with his reciting the German language and then singing in his low guttural Ziggy-era-Bowie voice. Then Murphy alternates between whispering and animal-like yelps. Ash ups the ante on the song by adding fuzzy, ragged guitar. J’s booming distorted bass and Haskins’ huge thrashing drums just heighten the musical drama.Things slow down considerably but no less compellingly on the second half of the album. “Saved” shows off Ash’s gorgeous, seductive saxophone as well as Haskins’ percussive maraca, Dead Can Dance-style drumming and a haunting intermittent bell. This song reminds me quite a bit of Murphy’s solo work.“The Dog’s a Vapour” is another highlight. The song slowly builds in intensity with pulsating and echoing industrial electronic keyboards as well as seething just under the surface ragged guitar. At the 4:11 mark, the song explodes with shards of Ash’s screeching guitar that sound almost like a police siren. Murphy wails and screams, doing his best banshee imitation. In keeping, it’s quite a dramatic song."Black Stone Heart"(not much of a vid but it's here for you to hear)“Black Stone Heart” picks up the pace for a bit between the two previously mentioned songs. It also encompasses the album’s title within its lyrics: “And now black is back and I seem out of sight. I go there with my darkness and go away white, go away white!” The song is exemplary of Bauhaus’s trademark sound with huge, catchy, raw guitar riffs; punchy, pounding bass; ethereal, atmospheric keyboards; and potent, slamming drums. Of course, Murphy leads the way with his seminal, bellowing yet gorgeous voice. It’s the stuff Bauhaus fans have dreamed of for decades.Go Away White is a mindblowingly great album. For those not familiar with Bauhaus, this is an excellent place to start. For the familiar, it’s an excellent place to start all over again appreciating one of the most influential post-punk bands of the '80s. Again, this album was definitely worth the wait.http://www.bauhausmusik.com/
Comments (31)
Otherwise Props!