Ninth

Peter Murphy | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 7, 2011)
• Original Release Date: 2011
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nettwerk Records
• ASIN: B004VBAHG6
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,245 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Peter Murphy s Ninth is his first solo album in seven years and the first since the permanent dissolution of Bauhaus in 2009. Produced by David Baron, Ninth is a culmination of where the singer has been and where he is now, all imbued with a confidence that has been Murphy s stock in trade. While countless performers and industry types bemoan the demeaning of music in current download culture, Murphy s only concern is continuing to connect with his audience with unparalleled honesty.


There s a sophisticated energy and psychic urgency to tracks like "Seesaw Sway," "Slowdown" and "Memory Go." Equally exciting are moments like "Velocity Bird," where Murphy gets his swagger on in the same wild kingdom where Iggy Pop s "streetwalking cheetah" prowled; the rocking "Peace To Each," where the singer ramps up his sinister quotient a few notches; the slow grooving head-nodder "Uneven & Brittle," and the brooding, atmospheric noir of "Secret Silk Society." On the convex, Ninth also features moments of warm poignancy, like the lover-comforting "Never Fall Out" and the melancholy closing track, "Crème de la Crème." But it s the album s first single, "I Spit Roses," that reconciles Murphy s melodic sophistication with his resignation toward the fate of Bauhaus

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Roar, June 7, 2011

By 

Edward Edwards (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ninth (MP3 Download)

PM returns with a heavy album of roaring beauty. Everything you've loved about his solo work has been updated & intensified here. It's absolutely stellar.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yup...he nailed it., June 21, 2011

By 

B. Kemper "Buzz" (Madison, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ninth (Audio CD)

I have had a love/not love relationship with Murphy's solo releases over the years, (never "hate" mind you...just an occasional "not love"). His solo work ranges from brilliant to good-but-a-little-too-precious. Some longtime fans will catch my meaning; others will vehemently disagree, but we all have our unique tastes, don't we? On this disc, however, PM nails it. Every note is in place and nothing is there that shouldn't be there. The thing about Murphy is not just his great voice but his unique way of using it: Velocity Bird, the opening cut, demonstrates this beautifully. To the non-Murphy connoisseur, it can almost sound like he's "scooping" the notes, unable to land on the pitch properly. But oh no...a closer listen will show this to be no mistake: it's there on purpose and it's perfect. A lesser singer could never pull this off. And his lyrics here are pitch-perfect too: he hits the beauty and the darkness, often in the same phrase. "I spit roses" conjures up some great poetic imagery in three little words.

On a semi-related note: to anyone who is reading this and has yet to pick up the newest and final Bauhaus CD "Go Away White", you should know that it too is an amazing recording. They got it right; bringing back the old magic while not becoming parodies of their 1980s selves. Buy both. You will thank yourself.

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Holy Smoke Peter Murphy's back!, June 9, 2011

By 

Frank Smith - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ninth (Audio CD)

I didn't expect something like the album Ninth from Peter Murphy. You'd think he would have packed it in by now. But the old goth rock God re-assembled the great Bauhaus and toured with the band for a time recently. They also released an album, Go Away White in 2008. The last good solo album for Murphy was Cascade in 1995. And you know, overall, that album was fairly strong. But Ninth is much, much better. And dare I say this, Ninth is in my view, better than the iconic record Deep. There's a real raw energy to these tunes and David Baron -- who co-wrote most of these songs -- does a brilliant job with production duties. The drum sound is terrific on Ninth and the collage of guitars, with strings in the mix on stellar tracks like I Spit Roses and The Prince and Old Lady Shade makes for some incredible tuneage. Velocity Bird is a seering opener. Some might argue that the amazing single I Spit Roses is the standout here. But Seesaw Sway, Never Fall Out, Memory Go and Uneven and Brittle are all real toe-tappers which Murphy sinks his teeth into. I have no idea what the Secret Silk Society is, but I'd love to be a member. It sounds quite dangerous. Crème de La Crème slows things down with prominent piano and strings. This is a great track to close Ninth. And Murphy sings this tune with considerable aplomb. I take Daniel Thorlby's point about Murphy's singing. I suppose from a strictly technical point of view Peter Murphy's voice isn't nearly as pliant as it was 20 years ago. Is it smoking, age? I don't know frankly. I can't touch my toes anymore, but hey, I get by. Let's face facts, Murphy's pipes are still pretty marvelous. His range is quite stunning and what he does in the lower register of his vocals is particularly impressive, as is his phrasing. Ninth knocks my socks off -- 4 and a half stars!