Lion is the tenth solo album by English musician Peter Murphy. It was released on 2 June 2014 in the United Kingdom and 3 June 2014 in the United States through Nettwerk Records.[2] The album was produced by Killing Joke bassist Youth alias Martin Glover.[3][4]
| Lion | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 2 June 2014 | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock, gothic rock, industrial rock[1] | |||
| Length | 56:10 | |||
| Label | Nettwerk | |||
| Producer | Youth | |||
| Peter Murphy chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Peter Murphy | ||||
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A teaser trailer for the album was released on 27 March 2014. The track "Hang Up" was released as a single on 8 April 2014[5] and was accompanied by a music video.[6] The remixed version track was also released as limited 7" Record Store Day single, with the b-side track "I’m On Your Side".[7] Murphy embarked a North American tour in 2014 in support of the album.[8]
It was his first album to chart on the US Billboard 200 since his 1992 album, Holy Smoke.
Background
editThe album is a product of sessions with Youth, with whom Murphy got together "just to see how it went."[4] Murphy described the album as "a mixture of stuff, almost like operas for the dispossessed" and "romantic and very deep and emotional, quite symphonic in places."[4] He also further stated:
"It's a mixture of 'The White Album,' which goes into 'Helter Skelter,' and kind of 'I Am the Walrus' type of arrangement stuff. It's a lot — kind of like, 'Who is that person? How can he imagine he can do all that?' I just think I'm out of place, really. I'm like Bowie, Iggy, Frank Sinatra, Elvis all rolled into one, and it's kind of like, 'What planet did he come from?"[8]
The album was recorded in a rapid manner, with songs improvised.[9] Murphy wondered if he would be able to replicate the performances while on tour:
"The songs are all in a high register — so now I have to learn to sing that way. I keep asking, 'My God, how did I get that high? How do I get that high again, and how do I sustain it for an hour?'"[9]
Track listing
edit- "Hang Up" – 5:44
- "I Am My Own Name" – 5:46
- "Low Tar Stars" – 4:12
- "I’m On Your Side" – 5:29
- "Compression" – 6:12
- "Holy Clown" – 4:14
- "The Rose" – 3:36
- "The Ghost of Shokan Lake" – 6:28
- "Eliza" – 3:23
- "Loctaine" – 6:25
- "Lion" – 4:41
Release history
edit| Country | Date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom[10] | 2 June 2014 | Loma Vista/Nettwerk Records |
| United States[2] | 3 June 2014 |
Personnel
edit- Peter Murphy - vocals
- Eddie Banda - drums, keyboards, programming, engineering, mixing
- Martin Destroyer - guitar (track 4)
- Pavan Sharda - guitar (track 5)
- Michael Rendall - keyboards, programming, engineering, mixing
- Youth - bass guitar, guitar, keyboards, programming, production, mixing
- Emilio DiZefalo - violin
References
edit- ^ "Lion - Peter Murphy | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ a b Coplan, Chris (27 March 2014). "Peter Murphy confirms Lion release date, announces North American tour". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ Grow, Kory (6 May 2013). "Bauhaus' Peter Murphy: "Doctors Give Out Antidepressants Like Smarties or M&Ms Now"". The Village Voice. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ a b c Graff, Gary (21 May 2013). "Bauhaus' Peter Murphy Working on New Album 'Lion,' Hunting 2014 Release". Billboard. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ Young, Alex (5 April 2014). "Listen: Peter Murphy's new single "Hang Up"". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ Heller, Jason (4 April 2014). "Peter Murphy would like you to "Hang Up" and watch his new video". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ "Bauhaus's Peter Murphy announces 10th solo album Lion". Fact. 24 March 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ a b Adams, Gregory (27 March 2014). "Peter Murphy Takes 'Lion' on North American Tour, Unveils Album Teaser". Exclaim!. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
- ^ a b Sheffield, Rob (29 May 2014). "The Batman Cometh: Peter Murphy Returns With Goth Epic 'Lion'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
- ^ Coplan, Chris (24 March 2014). "Peter Murphy will release new album Lion in June". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 11 April 2014.