Artistic impulse is hard to mask, and some people cannot imagine a life without their creative voice as the main driver. The best part of life with imagination is that you are never too old. In 1979, Peter Murphy, the lead singer of Bauhaus, created the timeless classic “Bela Lugosi’s Dead.” Jumping to the present day, Murphy continues with his latest solo album, Silver Shade.
Out through Metropolis Records on Friday, May 9th, 2025, the new album marks Murphy’s eleventh solo effort and first in over eleven years, when he released Lion in 2014. A long journey in music began with the pioneering Bauhaus, and amidst some bumps in the road, Murphy smoothly sailed into 2025 with no point of exit. Set to turn sixty-eight in July, Murphy has dealt with some battles and still carries the poise and grace he has always had throughout his career.
In eleven new tracks produced by Youth of Killing Joke, minimalist instrumentation is paired with the grand, deep serenity that Murphy’s vocals exude. While track one, “Swoon,” is a bit simplistic in its choral lyrics, it dawns on you that “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” was infinitely unique in that right. An opening with a slight David Bowie-like style, the songs tend to get more melodic and lyrical throughout the rest of Silver Shade. With a favorite being “Time Waits,” it reminds us that time waits for no one, as this remains clear throughout the lyrics, which eloquently surf the melody.
Furthermore, Silver Shade is a bit shy of that Bauhaus darkness that fans know and love, but it lives up to the standards of the rest of his lighter solo albums, even though in some fans’ eyes nothing can surpass 1989’s Deep or 1995’s Cascade. With that all being said, this new album has many interesting tunes with a bit of a mystery message, such as “Xavier New Boy” and “Cochita Is Lame.” Leaving things up for interpretation is what art is for, and thus it is never dull.
Others, like “The Artroom Wonder” (featuring Tool’s Justin Chancellor) and “Meaning Of My Life,” seem to inspire the audience to listen to more. At the end, there is also the special bonus track, “Let The Flowers Grow,” a song released digitally in late 2024 featuring Boy George. This collaboration and the album title spark nostalgia for his ‘unfinished symphonies.’
Peter Murphy continues to explore new musical paths and shows no signs of slowing down. His music is timeless, and so is he. For all of the above, Cryptic Rock gives Peter Murphy’s newest album, Silver Shade, 4 out of 5 stars.
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