Peter Murphy has signed to Metropolis records. The promotions department isn't sure if he is "right for the goth/underground" scene anymore. I think it's all relative. His first release of a three album contract, was recorded live at El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles on 31st November 2000. As the liner notes tell it, "this recording captures the complete set as played at the El Rey including the real time pauses between songs and no overdubs except for correcting very minimal track audio glitches...what you hear is what was heard." It even includes an unnecessary, but very lucky on the couple's part, marriage proposal.
This is a two cd recording and it was originally the second cd that caught my attention. First because it has David J joining in to do three Bauhaus songs and an Elvis cover.
Here's the set list for said show:
Cool Cool Breeze
All Night Long
Keep Me From Harm
Indigo Eyes
Subway
I'll Fall With Your Knife
Marlene Dietrich's Favourite Poem
A Strange Kind of Love
My Last Two Weeks
Big Love of a Tiny Fool
Gliding Like a Whale
Cuts You Up
Time Has Got Nothing to Do With it
Angelic Harmony
Encore (second cd):
Who Killed Mr. Moonlight
All We Ever Wanted Was Everything
Hope (Midnight Proposal)
Love Me Tender
The first cd has its moments, but for the most part he seems to continue in the same direction as his last few albums have shown. Murphy seems to be mellowing with age. Musically the cds are both wonderful. Joining him on stage for this show (and the rest of the tour i suppose) was Hugh Marsh on violin and Peter DiStefano (from Porno for Pyros) on guitars, plus Murphy straps on the 12-string periodically. A smooth minimalist recording of some light sounds that are difficult to hear as live without the random crowd cheers. With the stripped down band, one must take notice of the distinct Murphy vocals, no grand production or over-bearing band. I don't have a great deal of knowledge on his solo career (sorry, i went the way of Tones on Tail and Love and Rockets after "the split" sans the random single that grabbed me, like "Line Between the Devil's Teeth"), so i don't feel qualified to say whether this is a good or bad step for Mr. Murphy, but i must say, when I'm in the mood for it, this is a great listen.
Check out his site www.petermurphy.org or try the Metropolis site for more info on this release. Murphy is currently in the studio working on his newest album and after its early 2002 release a tour will follow.
