In the Flat Field

Bauhaus

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 7, 1998)
• Original Release Date: July 7, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: 4ad / Ada
• ASIN: B000007SPV
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #15,564 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gothic roots, November 2, 2003

By	Pieter "Toypom" (Johannesburg) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

Peter Murphy being one of my favourite musicians, it's interesting to investigate his roots in this seminal goth album from the early 1980s. Compared to his later solo work, this music is raw but passionate and multifaceted, utilising innovative drum patterns, guitar bursts and alienated vocals to create sparse sounds of gloom and foreboding. The eeriest tracks here - and my personal favourites - are Small Talk Stinks with it insistent repetition of the title, the frightening St. Vitus Dance and the hair raising Stigmata Martyr with its Latin chant that sounds like the black mass. A God In An Alcove and Spy In The Cab are further above-average tracks. This re-issue has been enhanced by the addition of early singles like Telegram Sam, their stunning version of the T. Rex single. Bauhaus were brave in their experimentation and deserve their cult status as they didn't choose the easy path of catchy rock riffs but wove a web of mood and feeling influenced to a certain extent by the pioneering work of Bowie, Siouxsie & The Banshees and others. They spawned a host of imitators but this is the real goth thing from the fertile early 1980s.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The goth-masters' debut., August 23, 2003

By	MaratsBathing "Sail" (NY) - See all my reviews

In the Flat Field is the first album by Bauhaus, one of the greatest goth bands to ever exist. Their music is very hard to describe in words, but I'll do my best.

This album is very intense, much more so than other Bauhaus efforts. The stark instrumentation and Peter Murphy's beautiful, wavering bass voice are really what defines Bauhaus' sound. Think along the lines of a much happier and more humorous Joy Division. Most of the time the lyrics are very dark and poetic, but Bauhaus isn't afraid to use humor in their work. "Small Talk Stinks", "Scopes", and "Telegram Sam" are laugh-out-loud hilarious. All of the songs on this record are keepers, there's no filler.

If you're into goth music, you already know about Bauhaus, but if you're new to the scene, In the Flat Field is a great place to start. It takes quite a few listens to get used to it, but once you do, you'll love it. Standout tracks include: "Dark Entries", "God in an alcove", "Terror Couple Kill Colonel", and "Double Dare."

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Strong Bauhaus' Studio Effort, February 13, 2004

By	SandmanVI (Glen Allen, VA United States) - See all my reviews

This was the band's 1st and arguably best studio album depending which kind of Bauhaus songs you prefer. However it was so hard to find back in the 80's that most people collected Bauhaus songs via compilations. ITFF has so many songs it looks like a comp too. Collectors and fans today are lucky that this once rare album is now so easy to find, and cheap also.

Several of their signature dark, mysterious gems are present: "Double Dare", "Dark Entries" and the intrigue-laden "Spy in the Cab". But this album is heavier with their faster, more punk songs like "St. Vitus Dance", "God in an Alcove", "Telegram Sam" and the title track "In the Flat Field" (Peter Murphy would remake "ITFF" under the title "The Line Between the Devil's Teeth" later in his solo career). My favorite on this album is the brilliant "Crowds", the ultimate ode to the relationship that ends bitterly.

It's a great album and a must for fans. ITFF is a solid place for newcomers to start though a true comp like "Volume I" or "Volume II" may be better.