Ninth [CD]

I've been a fan of Peter Murphy since Bauhaus and this is one of his best works yet. There are moments when you can hear traces of his finest works and yet this is something entirely refreshing and new. It is a must for any fan!

"Velocity Bird" opens this 11 track masterpiece and that's followed by "Seesaw Sway" and Peace to Earth". In these heavier tracks I can hear moments of "Adrenalin" from the final Bauhaus album "Go Away White" as well as many other of Peter's faster/harder compositions. It is like Peter is wrining every last moment out of the studio time that he has to play the rock god meastro. The album was recorded in only 7 days!

The single "I spit roses" is typical Peter Murphy. The lyrics make little sense but they work (shick shack, left you in shock, shed poison with a lovers lock...) The video for this single (not on the CD unfortunately) reminds me of the Lemony Snicket movie that Jim Carrey did a few years back. I find myself thinking that Peter Murphy should have acted a little more while not performing music.

"Never Fall Out" is a slow strumming ballad. Peter sings "If you fall in love with me, you'll never fall out" and that is a great way to sum up his unique voice. While, in his early career, Peter may have been considered a Bowie wanabe, his voice is so much more. This song reminds me of "Sails Wave Goodbye" from the "Cascade" album (also a favourite of mine from his back catalogue).

After the slower tempo of the "Never Fall..." Peter Returns to his fast paced poet/rock star strut with "Memory Go". Not sure what I mean. Think "The Line Between The Devil's Teeth (And That Which Cannot Be Repeat)" and then ask yourself, how could Peter update that for the new millenium. Hopefully this track will be released as another single from the album as it has all the right ingredients including a mega catchy chorus and hook.

Peter keeps the pace uptempo while loosing us in his obscure lyrics with "The Prince and The Old Lady Shade". I had to use an online dictionary to find out what "vespertilain" meant only to find the previous person to search the word had been promted to do so from the same track. Nice to know that I'm not the only fan and also not the only one who had not idea what it meant! (google it - I'm not telling)!

By this point you are thinking that it can't get any heavier and then Peter unleashes "Uneven and Brittle". This is almost certainly the heaviest track on the album. £ minutes into the track Peter screams a note and maintains it for almost 25 seconds. I feel like I'm watching someone swimming under water in a movie and I am drawn to trying to hold my breath as I watch them. An exhausting feat no doubt.

So it gets toward the end of the CD and you think, now he should put in a slower number and with a title like "Slowdown" you'd think that's what you are about to get but no! This is another rocket of a track with a bassline that reminds me of early Sisters Of Mercy (Temple of Love) at times and awaesome electric guitars and that voice. What a voice!

And then, without warning "Secret Silk Society" comes in to show that Peter has not forgot how to ply that slow paced gothic spell that drifts from the speakers like mist across the moors. It's not my favourite track but that's because there are so many other greats to choose from.

The album is conclude by the quite beautiful "Creme de la Creme" which takes me back to Bauhaus but early bauhaus this time. There is something here reminiscent of "Crowds" but where "Crowds" remained sparse from beginning to end, "Creme de la Creme" builds to a crescendo like waves rolling onto the shore and washing clean the shore, ready for another new day or another play of this CD. I cannot stop listening to it.

This is by far the best album Peter has ever recorded. Let's hope the wait isn't so long for album number 10.

As a sidenote, Peter had also recently recorded some tracks with Mick Karn (formerly of Japan) who sadly passed away in January 2011. Peter and Mick had recorded together as Dali's Car back in 1984 and the intent was to release a second album under that name. Peter is still planning to release the 5 tracks they recorded later in 2011 so all fans should look out for that!

Jon

Excellent, Murphy at his best,I can`t help but smile when I listen to this, "Never Fall Out" being my favorite, turn the volume up loud, sit back and take it all in. I want more!!

Peter Murphy is criminally underrated by the world. Like many of its predecessors, "Ninth" is full of choruses that you want to sing out loud..."I spit Roses!" and also unique tunes and turns of this great singer's gravelly voice. Every song could be a single in its own right and there are heavy roaring anthems alongside mellow soulful wails. My best "buy before I have heard it" purchase for years! 'Seesaw Sway' and 'I spit roses' are particularly good.