BAUHAUS
GOTHAM
DOUBLE ALBUM KK, PLAYGROUND RELEASE: NOVEMBER 8, 1999 REVIEW: JANUARY 10, 2000


These dark dandies of rock, these stylish gloom artists that are Bauhaus somehow got lost between musical territories. Though some goths seem to like them, their name doesn’t come up very often in their ramblings, because it’s really not that gothic. Friends of postpunk/darkwave bands like Joy Division and Birthday Party don’t seem to care too much either.
Bauhaus have both a gothic and a punky edge, but additionally you can glimpse the glamorous dream worlds of David Bowie and Television in the recordings. Fewer influences and a simpler sound might have made for greater fame and royalties, but as it is, Bauhaus will have to settle for being a very good band.
This is the ambitious gigantic reunion concert double album. Normally a very big let down when it comes to any old cult band getting together 15 years after they disbanded (I’m thinking of bands like The Velvet Underground and Sex Pistols). But not only was the US tour in 1998 a great success, the record is also very alive and kicking.
The first CD is all relevant material, with most of Bauhaus greatest songs. ”Hollow Hills” is a gloomy masterpiece and the nervously twanging and squealing guitar on ”Terror Couple Kill Colonel” puts your hairs on end.
The second CD contains covers of Bowie, Bolan and Dead Can Dance, of variable quality.
Peter Murphy is one of those classic rock stars like Iggy Pop. The star quality radiates from his voice and is probably above all which makes this record work, though the guitar work is excellent as well. The old Bauhaus material presented is not all brilliant, and covering ”Ziggy Stardust”  in a satisfactory way is a bit beyond the band’s ability. But Peter Murphy’s grim and arrogant attitude in stating that ”Bela Lugosi’s Dead” gets me every time.

MATTIAS HUSS