Peter Murphy - Love Hysteria (1988)

Peter John Joseph Murphy (born 11 July 1957) is an English singer and musician. He was the vocalist of the rock group Bauhaus and later went on to release a number of solo albums. Thin with prominent cheekbones, a baritone voice, and a penchant for gloomy poetics, he is often called the "Godfather of Goth".

The album was largely written with former B-Movie keyboard player Paul Statham, who had joined Murphy’s band, The Hundred Men. It was produced by former member of The Fall, Simon Rogers.
Having assembled, for touring purposes, what would soon be his formal backing band, the Hundred Men, and more specifically, having found a new key songwriting collaborator in ex-B. Movie keyboardist Paul Statham,
Murphy created his most elegant post-Bauhaus effort to date. Love Hysteria had definite Bowie echoes, though the feeling was more late-’70s Berlin-era than Ziggy glam. That said, with his band turning in a variety of bright, lively performances and with sympathetic production from ex-Fall member/arranger Simon Rogers, Murphy matched the music with flair, his voice even more of a passionate croon than a powerful howl. Lead single “All Night Long” was something of an American breakthrough hit; its upbeat rock drive and lush keyboards are a perfect bed for Murphy‘s performance.
Other moments, such as the ringing acoustic/electric guitar combinations on “Indigo Eyes” and “Dragnet Drag,” take Murphy even further away from Bauhaus‘ shadow, though “His Circle and Hers Meet” and “Blind Sublime” have a brusquer energy. The definite highlights of the album are two majestic ballads: “Time Has Got Nothing to Do With It,” with a fine Statham synth line matching Murphy‘s soaring vocals; and “My Last Two Weeks,” a simply wonderful romantic sentiment.
If his lyrics now sometimes have the feeling of formal philosophical pronouncements, the sense of style with which he sings them saves the performances more often than not. Closing with a fun romp through Iggy Pop‘s “Funtime,” saluting another one of Murphy‘s old heroes with an appropriately strong vocal and amusing horror-movie samples, Love Hysteria shows Murphy fully coming into his own as a performer.

1. “All Night Long” — 5:42
2. “His Circle and Hers Meet” — 6:01
3. “Dragnet Drag” — 5:46
4. “Socrates the Python” — 6:47
5. “Indigo Eyes” — 5:54
6. “Time Has Got Nothing to Do with It” — 5:21
7. “Blind Sublime” — 3:55
8. “My Last Two Weeks” — 6:38
9. “Funtime” (David Bowie, Iggy Pop) — 3:49

• Bonus tracks on CD reissue:

1. “I’ve Got a Miniature Secret Camera” — 4:25
2. “Funtime (Cabaret Mix)” — 5:57

All songs written by Peter Murphy except where noted.

Personnel

• Peter Murphy – vocals, “naive” keyboards
• Faut Güner, Peter Bonas, Simon Rogers – guitar
• Eddie Branch, Peter Bonas – bass
• Matthew Seligman – fretless bass
• Paul Statham, Simon Rogers – keyboards
• Howard Hughes – piano
• Terl Bryant – drums, percussion
• Producer – Simon Rogers
• Engineer – Ian Grimble
• Engineer [Assisted By] – Danny Pickard, Gareth Cousins
• Photography By – Jean-Baptiste Mondino

Notes
Released: March 1988
Recorded at: Jacob Studios and Abbey Road
Mixed at Abbey Road
Genre: AGothic rock
Length: 60:08
© 1988

Label - Beggars Banquet Records