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, Daniel Ash & 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.
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The Dog's A Vapour 6:49 mins.
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i love music that fits this description: "funked-up bassline & Haskin’s heavy, tribal drumming."
these tracks sound incredible!
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The creatures of the night...what music they make! And so forth. Sounds like they haven't missed a beat. I assume those years in the dark coffins kept them perfectly preserved for when the time was right and they could arise and walk the stage again.
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Mollifire yea me too. I like "crunchy" music over "creamy", haha! Thanks!
Mike creatures of the night do make great music. But they have preserved themselves in their other bands not coffins, haha. They are the walking dead afterall dontcha know?!
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Fantastic review you've got here, hon! And I assume you know how I feel about this.. being a fan and all; I got all freaking happy when I read on the newspaper Murphy and the gang were releasing a new album (which still has the thing) BUT it saddens me to know this will be Bauhaus' last... ::sigh:: Oh well, I sure hope these damned creatures have the decency to get their skinny asses over here for one last show.
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sounds like 4am coke binge music
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Great info and review, August!
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25 years. sheesh. i cant get over that lol. i love his voice, its so... hard. as in badass.
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Andrea thanks, I figured you'd be into the new Bauhaus. I've heard they are not touring in support of the album since Ash & Murphy don't get on too well. Love & Rockets is performing at Coachella in a few weeks so I'll get to see 3/4 of Bauhaus, albeit in a different form!
Charley I wouldn't know what that sounds like from my own experience. But if it sounds this good then I'll take your word for it.
Dar thanks for the kudos.
Sam yea it's too bad it took them so long, especially since this album is so good. I love Murphy's voice too(I better, since I have 5 of his solo albums). I actually saw him live back in '92 in Portland, OR & he was utterly amazing in concert! He is badass!
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I'm looking forward to giving this album a good, thorough listen. A DJ on my local community radio station played it it in its entirety a couple weeks ago. Alas, it was a late night show, so I missed it. Hoping it's still on their archives.
Speaking of creatures of the night, how many of us went to see the Hunger just because they (and David Bowie) were in the film?My Trusted MOGs
Lady MI, if you like Bauhaus & the tracks I've posted, you should love this album. And I'm sorry to say that I've not seen "The Hunger". I know, I know, what kind of fan boy am I? It's just that when it came out my conservative christian parents wouldn't allow me to go see R rated movies regarding bisexual vampires for some odd reason, lol! Hell, I just saw 'The Man Who Fell To Earth' finally just last year so I'm still playing catch up for all I was denied as a youngin'
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Outstanding stuff. Let's hear it for selling one's soul! ;)
Looks like I'll have to wait to pick this one up, because I just spent my music budget on Portishead's newest.
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Whoops, I forgot to mention that your review was brilliant.
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Haha, yes, let's hear it for soul selling. Thanks for the kudos Scotch. And I thought Portishead's album wasn't due out till the 27th or 28th of this month(at least in the US). You must be elsewhere, but I still didn't know it was already released(although I already have it myself since I'm doing a review for Mog).
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You are correct, it doesn't drop until the 28th. I pre-ordered it, since what I bought was the limited edition, and I figured I wouldn't be able to get my hands on it if I waited too long.
Envious that you already have it... :)
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Yes yes...you already know...[monotone voice] great review. ; )
I just heard Adrenaline on Dale's 08's looking pretty good. I dig it for my "4am coke binge music" haha Charley!
Seriously though I'm into it...thanks for the breakdown can't wait to hear rest...(when I have an eight-ball on hand).
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Scotch it's quite good, I've been digging it. I'm curious to know what's on the limited edition cd though? I didn't see one on Amazon.com. I'll check Portishead's website.
Helen thanks dear. I'm not surprised Dale had it on his mix, it's a pretty catchy song. I'm going to post this over on the dark side for ya all too.
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Augusts1 - http://www.portisheadshop.co.uk/store/page4.asp?suptype=&t=1&sub_type=1&prod_id=2&col=30
40 quid! Well, 44 shipped to my home. Not sure what that works out to in weak USD, but I'd say it's north of $100. Is it worth it? We'll see. If not, it can probably go up on eBay for more than I paid.
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Hey thanks Scotch, I did go to their website & found that. That etched vinyl is pretty cool looking. Usually USD works out to twice the amount of the British pound, so yea, w/shipping around $100. Way more than I'd want to pay for it but that's just me.
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the $100 for Phead is too rich for me as well, but I sooooo want that etched vinyl single of Machine Gun!
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I don't blame you, there. Normally, I'd say $100 for any album is too spendy, but it was a moment of weakness.
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You only live once, so if you have the money, why not Scotch?
Mollifire that etched vinyl is rather enticing isn't it?
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Why not, indeed. I've actually been cutting way back on expenses, so this was my gift to myself when I got a short-term shooting/editing gig.
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awesome review. I can't wait to hear the record. The cut you embedded makes me think this could be a decent reunion.
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Thanks Tjay. Unfortunately, I don't think they have any plans to do a tour around this album. Then again, you never know. The album is already out too, btw.
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I though the word on a tour was a resounding NO. Apparently, during the making of this album, they realized why they broke up in the first. It turns out they make music well, but they're always at each other's throats.
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I think they broke up after they did this album, so a tour is definitely out of the question! I just saw that Murphy will be in San Fran solo on 6/2/08 so perhaps he'll be doing some of these songs live I betcha.
I just looked 'em up on wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauhaus_(band) (sorry, the link isn't functioning properly for some reason, so you have to click on the bauhaus(band) link once you get to the Bauhaus page, grrrrrrr) and if you go to the section "reformation" it talks about the band breakup. Very sad, too bad, life goes on. . . .
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there really has been a lot of talk about this
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Saw Love & Rockets at Coachella & they ROCKED! Too bad Peter wasn't there to do a reunion gig. But they've broken up I've heard.
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Great review but I need to pick one thing out just so people don't go looking for more of it from him, But David J has never played Saxophone. Alex Green, from his days with the Jazz Butcher usually plays Sax on David's solo records. The Sax in Bauhaus and Love and Rockets(and tones on Tails) was always played by Daniel Ash.
Otherwise Props!
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Thanks for the kudos & letting me know that Starspring I appreciate it!