Customer Reviews

Dust

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Peter Murphy's album "Dust" is what I consider to be the peak of his progressive evolution. We have all heard elements of this "sound" in his earlier albums, but with DUST, he goes all out, and does an absolutely phenomenal job with it. Songs such as "No Home Without its Sire," "Just for Love," "Jungle Haze" with the brilliant bongo set towards the close. And of course, the beautifully rendered version of two old songs, "My Last Two Weeks" and "Subway" which has a little extra (Epilogue) not included in the original; you simply can't go wrong with this meditative, Middle Eastern sound supporting the elegant and strong voice of Peter Murphy - you simply cannot go wrong!

It is no doubt my favorite Murphy album. His lyrics are deep, overlaying a subtle Middle Eastern flare that converges with one another in a way I could've never expected when I bought the album. Innovative, creative, musically enhanced and collaborated with Murphy's metaphoric and consistently poetic, thought-provoking lyrics, along with his voice, which may I add has developed over the years into a weapon in itself; just listen to the opening lyric-only song "Cool Cool Breeze" on "Just for Love Live" and you will understand the heightened status of this man's voice, from Bauhaus in 79 to Dust in 2002. What more can I say: absolutely brilliant, better than any other!

Richard C Williams
Yes, I invite feedback from other Murphy fans or those who disagree with my opinion; always up for a debate.

This album is a far cry from Murphy's earlier works, and the first time I listened I thought I'd made a poor purchase. Now, a few listens later, I can see it for what it is: a truly unique and well-crafted album. The songs are indeed a bit long, as has been mentioned in the other reviews. There is no resemblance to a pop or rock album in any way. The songs are, in essence, slow and meditative. Lyrically, they are deep and poetically pristine. This is not a radio friendly album, but it is an entirely spiritual, atmospheric set of pieces that is worthy of being there next to Peter's more commercial work. THINGS TO REMEMBER and JUNGLE HAZE are excellent gems, and FAKE SPARKLE OR GOLD DUST? isn't far behind. The re-makes of MY LAST TWO WEEKS and SUBWAY are well-done; sweetly nostalgic and experimentative at the same time. If you are expecting something along the lines of CASCADE or LOVE HYSTERIA (like I was) you'll be shocked (like I was!) Give it a chance, though. Lay down, turn the lights out, and let the music fill the dark. Contemplate the lyrics. You'll hear what I finally heard. I gave this album four out of five stars because one or two of the tracks kind of don't work as well as they could, but on the whole this is great stuff!

This album is honest and very real. I feel that in past Peter Murphy albums there have been some slight undertones of insecurity and dishonesty which is natural when a musician is growing, but this album rings true to me. I have heard people say that this album is cliche and world beat-ish, but anyone who sees this as simply another world beat album isn't listening and is perhaps afraid to let the music take them somewhere unknown. This isn't an album for just anyone, however. You must be ready to let yourself go and allow the rythm and his voice to take you on a journey through your soul. I would strongly recommend this album to anyone who is willing to be rocked in a major way. pick it up. You'll be happy you did. Peter always delivers.

It's such a rarity when an artist actually gets better over a period of time. Such an example is Peter's latest album 'Dust'. Legend has it that it was actually Mercan Dede who called Peter to suggest working on his next album and who suggested rerecording 'Subway' and 'My Last Two Weeks'. Both of those songs have never sounded better in my opinion. The beauty of 'Dust' is that it so perfectly blends the influences of both Turkish and Western music culture. The songs, which were written inside of a week, are very emotional and personal. 'Girlchild Aglow' was written about Murphy's relationship with his daughter and how it has changed with time. Although Murphy's vocals are the focal point, the music doesn't take a back seat, blending electronic sounds with some incredible-sounding real percussion, not to mention input from some great musicians such as violinist Hugh Marsh who we all remember from 'Alive...Just For Love'. I really can't say enough about how much I love this album. It should have recieved awards. It should have sold in the millions. Do yourself a favor and purchase one of the best albums of all time by one of the best vocalists of all time.

I've been a Peter Murphy fan on and off since the Bauhaus days. One of my favorite albums of all time was Love Hysteria. In fact, to date, it's still a perfect, smart-pop album, even if it sounds just a little dated nearly 20 years later.

However, over the years, I found Peter Murphy's work to be interesting, but kind of uneven. I felt frustrated that he kept using the same sounds on each album that he'd used before and, eventually, I wandered away in search of new smart-pop.

I found Dust when it came out a few years ago at my local record shop and bought it out of a tentative blend of curiosity and nostalgia. At first, Dust seemed to be Peter Murphy's version of the world music-meets-pop phase that Peter Gabriel, Sting and Paul Simon went through before him. "Maybe," I thought, "it's a musical mid-life crisis." Anyway, Dust washed over me, well, like dust. It was pretty, but I found Peter Murphy's voice incompatible with the music. I'd never heard Subway before, so this "cover" of it was fresh and, to my ears, was the best song on the disc, with his "cover" of My Last Two Weeks being my least favorite (don't mess with perfection, you know?). Also puzzling was the odd blend of traditional eastern sounds and structures with 1980's sounding synths. My first impression was that this album, while very ambitious, was just very pretentious. I walked away from Peter Murphy, again.

Sometime after that, I read a bit about him. Now one shouldn't need to care about the artist to care about the art, but after reading that he's a Muslim, living in Turkey with his wife, the direction Dust took seemed less pretentious and more organic. I gave it another try, this time listening for what the artist had to say, not comparing this work to his previous works.

I came away with the impression I have still, which is that this album is a brilliant, labor of love. It's almost devotional music and the uncomfortable marriage of Murphy's voice with the beautiful eastern-inspired soundscapes actually reveals a vulnerability and an honesty that's hard to really open one's self up to. It's almost too good.

What Peter Murphy is saying on this album is, as usual, oblique, but important. As always, he's talking about the human condition through his own philosophical lens. I won't spoil it, but it's deep stuff about values, love, hate, the importance we place on people and things and so forth.

But don't get me wrong, there IS an element of pretentiousness that remains. This IS Peter Murphy, after all! Dust isn't a perfect album and not every song really works. His choice to cover his own songs is an odd one. It's almost as it if to say "This is the new Peter Murphy; the old one is gone." except if that's the intent, it works in reverse. As a fan of his previous works, these covers almost insisted on experiencing this work through my own biased filter of comparison. I didn't need or want another version of My Last Two Weeks and, in a sense, I resented his efforts on Dust as a result of my affection for what had come before. But once I got past that, I was able to hear that work for the powerful, devotional and thoughtful statement that it is.

If you are new to Peter Murphy, Dust is an excellent place to start. If you're a fan who's wondering if Peter Murphy "still has it", I'll tell you right now, he has something else. This album is as different from Love Hysteria and Deep as those albums were from Bauhaus' The Sky's Gone Out. It's a risk, growing as an artist. In this case, it's a risk that pays off tenfold for the listener willing to open themselves up and surrender to it. It's not exactly easy listening, but it's worth it.

Knowing I am a huge Peter Murphy fan, my boyfriend gave me "Dust" for Christmas. I was entranced by the very first song... and then continued to be mesmerized by each song after that. The Middle Eastern instruments were beautifully used throughout the music. The new version of "My Last Two Weeks" made me cry, it was so gorgeously moving. The album as a whole is very atmospheric, and there is an intense exotic/gothic/mysterious mood throughout, making it consistent from song to song. This is why I have always loved Peter Murphy's music, and this album seems more "him" than ever... as if his style is evolving with the course of his life, and aging/progressing in the best of ways. It's so genuine. If you're a huge Bauhaus fan, you probably won't like this album. In my opinion, the further away Peter Murphy gets from Bauhaus, the better his music is. Although you may not hear any of these songs on the radio, and I don't believe there are any "singles" on here (that is, in my opinion, a *good* thing), this album is darkly mellow, hauntingly stirring, and a must-have for those who love what Peter Murphy is all about.

I actually didn't care for this album when I first listened to it. I was insulted by it because it was so extremely different from his previous music. Then, I made myself listen to this album forcing myself to forget everything I have ever heard from Peter Murphy and I realized it is a phenomenal album in itself. It's totally different but you need to take it as that; different than the rest and incomparable.

I'm so glad that Peter Murphy is changing with the times. It is no longer the 80's so I would not want him to release an album that sounds as such. That is not how artists grow and thrive. Take a look at Davie Bowie for instance. His music is so diverse and changing, yet he still keeps his edge, his special spice if you will. Peter Murphy is much the same and I think this is a tag of a true artist; someone who is able to grow and expand their horizons yet still able to keep their edge.

This album deeply explores different lyrics and tones accompanied by that amazing voice that Peter has. It's very mysterious, captivating, and melancholy. I love the different uses of the electric violin in this; very creative and alluring sounds. Overall the album is not dancy or upbeat like his other stuff. It's slow and relaxing.

Peter Murphy has taken a flying leap from conventional song construction and soars! Forget the Wild Birds...this is Peter's best album yet.
Each successive album of his reaches deeper and deeper into the realm of spirit and his spiritual exploration. "Cascade" (his previous album--not counting compilations and live recordings) found Murphy on the threshold between the two worlds. "Dust" is a collection of songs sung all the way from the otherside.
"Dust" is the perfect marriage of Murphy's love of Sufi culture and his spiritual connections. Each song feels as though it was an intuitive expression, almost improvisational. Don't let the seemingly slow, subdued rhythms trick you into thinking these songs are dark and dirgelike tunes. These songs are passionate and alive. They move like a heart pumping warm blood through the body. These songs feed and move the spirit.
Murphy may have left the goth-pop of the '80s & '90s behind...but that was just the "fake sparkle"; he has brushed that away revealing the "golden dust" that was there all along.

Songs From Golden Dust

This album was made in ? not 2001! It's a diamond amongst stones, and like the diamond it has an authentic and geniune sparkle. The whole musical environment sounds natural and spontaneous and it's as if Peter has returned or found a place or environment, which he has always been part of and comfortable with. Peter's incredible voice reflects/mirrors the music so naturally and perfectly... That diamond voice cut from a star, unveils its colourfully rich baritone caress, in a much more intimate and spontaneous style. Dust has a cool spacious quality coloured with a spiritual beauty that allows the listener to journey both the spiritual and metaphysical realms of their own perennial/infinite realm... the heart! This is Peter Murphy singing from the home within his heart... Dust is free from the reigns of commercialization.

A great sense of being, humility and a feeling of great purity emanates from this powerful album... A beauty and clarity that is something quite special and undefinable. This album has such a cool balance... It is neither from the east or the west, but from the middle way. Many people are going to find this album really inspiring, it's unique! I was scented away and to put that experience into action is quite simple... "The proof, as always, must come with the eating, so I suggest you claim your portion and relish it".

Jamil Ahmad

If "Dust" is imperfect then so are we. If Dust is perfection then so are we.
Forced to bring forth a musical context, I would suggest Kate Bush's "Hounds Of Love", Brian Eno's "Another Green World", Peter Murphy's "Cascade", Michael Brook's "Hybrid".
This album should one day get inside you in a wonderful way, but those who have a taste for any Marilyn/Sisters/Cure/Nephilim etc Goth nonsense should probably stay where they are.