Ninth

'Ninth' is Peter Murphy's 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 previous Peter Murphy solo albums have been filled with dark mysticism and foggy, tension-free music, 'Ninth' sounds alive. These tracks were road-tested on tour before Murphy entered the studio, and this is palpable as songs build and peak, delivering all the drama that made the man's work with Bauhaus so gripping. It's all put together in a right-sized package, too, with no filler, then wrapped in warm production from David Baron, who finds the proper balance of shadows and light. "The Godfather of Goth" sounds like the genre's savior here, coming on strong with those Bowie-sized aspirations and nailing that attractive Nosferatu-meets-Art-School style.

A big influence on the likes of Interpol, The Editors, The National, The Horrors, and also Nine Inch Nails, this will both have huge appeal to his (and Bauhaus') long term fans.