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CMU Playlists
Playlist: Peter Murphy
By CMU Editorial | Published on Friday 24 June 2011
Peter Murphy launched his career as frontman and lynchpin of art-rock pioneers Bauhaus, who made their seminal if divisive debut with ‘In The Flat Field’ in 1980. The group continued to push post-punk envelopes, ushering in sombre, monochromatic soundscapes over a further three acclaimed albums, before disbanding in 1983.
Having dabbled briefly in the performing arts, Murphy went on to form cult outfit Dali’s Car with percussionist Paul Vincent Lawford and ex-Japan bassist Mick Karn. Made up of components recorded separately on tape by the three members, the band’s first and only album ‘The Waking Hour’ was released in 1984. There were plans to reform last year, though Karn’s ill-health and subsquent sad passing scuppered that.
Murphy experimented with more of a pop-infused sound on his first and second solo albums ‘Should The World Fail To Fall Apart’ and ‘Love Hysteria’, which came out in 1986 and 1988 respectively. Despite receiving only a muted response from British listeners, Peter’s early solo work garnered a dedicated following in the US, where his popularity was cemented by 1990’s return to alt-rock ‘Deep’. Having converted to Islam and relocated to Turkey with his family, much of Murphy’s later music, particularly 1992 LP ‘Holy Smoke’, took on a discernible Middle Eastern influence.
With his solo efforts, and those with Bauhaus, cited as a fundamental inspiration by Nine Inch Nails, Murphy recorded a cover of Daniel Miller’s ‘Warm Leatherette’ with Trent Reznor in 2008. He went on to become a regular guest fixture of NIN’s live set, performing most notably at the final show of the group’s ‘Wave Goodbye’ tour in 2009.
Having embarked on assorted side projects, including a cameo as ‘The Cold One’ in last year’s ‘Twilight Saga: Eclipse’ vampire flick, Murphy is back with new long player ‘Ninth’, finally reconciling his own sophisticated melodic approach with the darkest and most atmospheric elements of the Bauhaus legacy in his first solo album for seven years. With ‘Ninth’ slated for release on 4 Jul via Nettwerk Records, we asked the ‘Godfather of Goth’ to compile a Powers Of Ten playlist for us.
PETER MURPHY’S TEN
Click here to listen to Peter’s playlist in Spotify, and then read on to find out more about their selections.
01 Magazine – Song From Under The Floorboards
The first support slot that I ever played on was opening for Magazine on their ‘Correct Use Of Soap’ UK tour in 1980. This evokes that trip, with a band that seemed too slick to be punk but not one to miss out on at the same time. Great song.
02 Underworld – Dark And Long
I like to listen to this every now and again. It’s a makes you dance without having to get up and dance kind of thing.
03 Sarah Fimm – Tamara Song
I watched this song from the writing process all the way through to the Fimm/ Baron production. A song written for a little girl no older than a year.
04 Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan – Nothing Without You (Tery Bina)
The late Qawwali singer, and Sufi Master, I sang to this many times in my London house’s breakfast room. May he rest in the lap of compassion.
05 Sol Seppy – Injoy
Simplicity itself, this feels like a one take performance, and on an upright old piano on the porch with the rain falling.
06 Roxy Music – Chance Meeting
This is early Roxy Music, and more so Brian Ferry’s inspired self.
07 Sigur Rós Svefn-G-Englar
My Production Manager and friend Greg Dean introduced me to Sigur Rós in 2000 and I respect their music. Do look out for their live in Iceland film where you see the ensemble visiting local Icelandic towns and villages, setting up their instruments wherever they land to play to their fellow Islanders.
08 Storm Large – Where Is My Mind?
Storm Large is a storm brewing.
09 Anthony Newley – Goldfinger
This was written for me – and so shall it be.
10 David Bowie – Memory Of A Free Festival
“…and Peter tried to climb aboard, but the captain shook his head and away they soared climbing through the ivory vibrant cloud … The sun machine is coming down and we’re gonna have a party – uh huh huh”.
