Burnt Endings

 

Bauhaus - Burning From The Inside [VIL-6061 JPN 1983 24-Bit 176.4kHz FLAC]

During my 2018 self-guided vinyl record store tour of Tokyo, I went in search of the illusive Japanese pressings of Bauhaus albums, the only one that I came home with was Burning From The Inside. Whilst not their best work (I'll explain my feelings further on), this is easily the best pressing of any album by the band. Cut and pressed by the anonymous salary men in white coats at the Victor Company of Japan, this rip unleashes many of the sonic improvements found with high quality Japanese vinyl compared to the British & European pressings, which for this album were made at Record Service in Alsdorf, Germany back in 1983. 

The title of this album is very apt as this is a band on self-destruct, with Pete Murphy mostly AWOL recovering from one ailment, affliction, addiction or another, it was mostly up to Daniel Ash and David J to write & construct most of the record. However it is also ironic that the nine minute full-band piece that is the title track is the stand out track.

We need to be honest with ourselves, She's In Parties just wasn't a great single, it is memorable only because it was to be their last and the weak ideas held enough commercial hooks to scratch the charts. If anybody has worked out what the pagan baroque of King Volcano is all about, please leave a comment below. Antonin Arnaud represents the classic Bauhaus formula, although the unnecessary wanking Indians verse serves only to confuse and appall rather than entertain. Who Killed Mr. Moonlight may have been a favourite for many, as it revealed more of the psychedelic solemnity on which David J's solo work was built. The track is incredibly simple, worked mostly around saxophone and piano with clever lyrics, however with Murphy nowhere to be seen or heard.

Likewise, Slice Of Life is more like Tones On Tail, built around the Ash semi-acoustic guitar, drum machine and whispered lyrics in his unique style. Murphy returns for the romping & stomping cabaret of Honeymoon Croon in his full Bowie mimicry. I quite like Kingdom's Coming as Pete Murphy is in dramatic & demonic form, despite the initial gentleness of the acoustic melody which just builds & builds. Then there is Burning From Inside, the nine minute title track, which could easily have fitted on Mask or In The Flat Field. More demonic vocals from Murphy on what is a slow builder into a jerky & punchy gothic rock classic.

In summary, only a few tracks bare any resemblance to the band we know as Bauhaus, with the remainder being a mix of what could be Tones On Tail, Love & Rockets or David J (solo) tracks. History hasn't been kind to Peter Murphy and his mostly self-inflicted issues, even at his lowest moments he needed the rest of the band more than they needed him. Everything gets summed up nicely with the closing and bizarrely cheerful Hope.

A1 She's In Parties

A2 Antonin Artaud

A3 King Volcano

A4 Who Killed Mr. Moonlight?

B1 Slice Of Life

B2 Honeymoon Croon

B3 Kingdom's Coming

B4 Burning From The Inside

B5 Hope