CD Reviews

Peter Murphy | Ninth

Nettwerk (2011)

By MICHAEL CHRISTOPHER | June 29, 2011

3.5 Stars

It used to be that casual music fans knew Peter Murphy only as the singer of Bauhaus's archetypal goth piece "Bela Lugosi's Dead." Times change, even for the undead, and since Murphy appeared in last year's Twilight Saga: Eclipse as the Cold One (a vampire, natch), horny pre- and post-pubescents now associate him with that dreadfully goth-lite world, alongside characters like Bella Swan. But those pale-face folk forever dressed in black — the ones who keep it old-school and side squarely with Team Lugosi — can once again claim Murphy as their own. Ninth provides a dose of gloom so savory it would bring tears of overwrought emotion to the eyes of contemporaries like Robert Smith and Andrew Eldritch, though it's not exactly a nostalgia trip — more like grown-up melancholy with an aggressive rock streak. The Godfather of Goth has never sounded so fresh, so . . . alive. "I Spit Roses" features vocals disturbingly like October-era Bono, but Murphy's most distinctive trait has always been the pall his Bowie-esque baritone casts. That's in fine form here, twisting about on the industrial synth-and-guitar thickness of "Velocity Bird" and "Uneven & Brittle" — the latter showing exactly why Trent Reznor has long been such a fanboy. "Peace to Each" is a bottom-heavy, dirty grinder that limps about like Ygor hobbling through Castle Frankenstein — and in a goth context, that's probably a good thing. It's not all zombified monotony either, as songs twist through a variety of light and shade — matching the creepy yin-yang greasepaint Murphy wears on his face on the album cover. There are more slow-burning moments, like the haunting splendor of "Never Fall Out"; or "Créme de la Créme," where the somber poeticism of "Our guns have lost their victims' names" makes the piano piece that much more gorgeous. In all, Ninth is a striking return to form.

The Sounds | Something To Die For
The recent news that British electronic act Faithless have called it a day no doubt left dejected ravers reaching for extra MDMA to stave off the tears.
Crystal Stilts | In Love With Oblivion
Slumberland (2011)
Junior Boys | It's All True
With its disco-bass pulse, jet-engine synths, and seductive half-time chorus, "Itchy Fingers" kicks things off by demonstrating the Boys' finesse for tricked-out, ass-shaking programmed grooves.
Atari Teenage Riot | Is This Hyperreal?
Returning after 11 years of officially not existing, what's left of ATR could've focused their energies on kicking lots of ass. Instead, they indulge spoken-wordy, freshman-year non-profundities...
The Coathangers | Larceny & Old Lace
The Coathangers' abrasiveness goes beyond their band name's graphic, backroom abortion reference: riot-grrrl shrieks, slap-in-the-face lyrics, and badass post-punk energy are all up front on their records.
Let's Wrestle | Nursing Home
Let's Wrestle are another pack of young British guitar owners, and although they haven't crafted much of an identity outside of being amiable wiseasses, that's all you need if your songs are catchy enough.
Vast Aire | OX 2010: A Street Odyssey
Although it's an imperfect effort in some regards, the somewhat conceptual OX 2010: A Street Odyssey testifies to Vast's highly developed steez, and does so with complements from MCs who effortlessly jibe with his arcane rhyme selections.
Nadia Oh | Colours
Tiger Trax (2011)
Unknown Mortal Orchestra | Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Fat Possum is having perhaps its best year . . . well, ever. Not only will the Mississippi label turn over a new leaf by releasing the debut album from Odd Future duo MellowHype later this month, their 2011 batting average for jangly little lo-fi gems has been, to say the least, reliable.
Trans Am | What Day Is It Tonight? Trans Am Live, 1993 - 2008
Trans Am are distillers of guilty pleasures, mixing fat AOR riffs with sleazy electronic accents and a propulsive attitude typically reserved for arcade soundtracks. What Day Is It Tonight? covers the DC-area band’s 20-year history with high-quality, high-energy live cuts taken from their many tours.
Various Artists | Where the Action Is: Los Angeles Nuggets 1965 - 1968
More than three years in the making, the most recent installment of Rhino's legendary archival garage-rock series offers an amazingly comprehensive excavation of an absurdly fertile scene.
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