Bauhaus - Go Away White (2008)

Bauhaus has seemingly resurrected themselves from the dead. After two recent reunion tours, the ‘godfathers of goth’ decided to sit down in the studio and write their fifth and final album, 25 years since their last. A lot has happened in nearly three decades. Singer Peter Murphy had a decent go at solo success, and the remaining three formed Love & Rockets to somewhat higher critical acclaim. The fact that L&R continued to write excellent music that sounded less and less like their previous incarnation proved that Bauhaus was not all Murphy, but rather a collective of extremely talented musicians, each of whom held distinct interest in different styles.

It shouldn’t be surprising that this album isn’t exactly a return to Bauhaus form, but rather a blending of styles explored in the past, both together and apart. Songs such as “Adrenalin” and “Too Much 21st Century” come across like Love & Rockets fronted by Peter Murphy, haunting vocals over lush atmospheric sound, considerably more loose and playful than strictly gothic. Other tracks like “International Bulletproof Talent,” “Endless Summer of the Damned,” and “Mirror Remains” do reveal a revamped^* take on true Bauhaus aesthetics with stark drums and bass coming to the front, leaving the guitar to wander through dark, eerie terrain.

Different still are the tracks “Saved” and “The Dog’s a Vapour,” which enter shadowy, ambient space, sounding almost akin to Brian Eno but remaining definitively Bauhaus (the latter was actually recorded for the Heavy Metal 2000 soundtrack a few years back). Even with frequent shifts in style, the album flows very well, and nearly every song is worthy of being present. If this really is their last studio release as Bauhaus, it's comforting to know they're ending things on a high note.

*pun not intended

Streamable Track: "Endless Summer of the Damned"


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