Lion (Peter Murphy album)

Lion is the tenth solo album by English musician Peter Murphy. It was released on 2 June 2014 in the United Kingdom and 3 June 2014 in the United States through Nettwerk Records.[2] The album was produced by Killing Joke bassist Youth alias Martin Glover.[3][4]

Lion
Studio album by
Released2 June 2014 (2014-06-02)
GenreAlternative rock, gothic rock, industrial rock[1]
Length56:10
LabelNettwerk
ProducerYouth
Peter Murphy chronology
Ninth
(2011)
Lion
(2014)
Singles from Peter Murphy
  1. "Hang Up"
    Released: 8 April 2014

A teaser trailer for the album was released on 27 March 2014. The track "Hang Up" was released as a single on 8 April 2014[5] and was accompanied by a music video.[6] The remixed version track was also released as limited 7" Record Store Day single, with the b-side track "I’m On Your Side".[7] Murphy embarked a North American tour in 2014 in support of the album.[8]

It was his first album to chart on the US Billboard 200 since his 1992 album, Holy Smoke.

Background

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The album is a product of sessions with Youth, with whom Murphy got together "just to see how it went."[4] Murphy described the album as "a mixture of stuff, almost like operas for the dispossessed" and "romantic and very deep and emotional, quite symphonic in places."[4] He also further stated:

"It's a mixture of 'The White Album,' which goes into 'Helter Skelter,' and kind of 'I Am the Walrus' type of arrangement stuff. It's a lot — kind of like, 'Who is that person? How can he imagine he can do all that?' I just think I'm out of place, really. I'm like Bowie, Iggy, Frank Sinatra, Elvis all rolled into one, and it's kind of like, 'What planet did he come from?"[8]

The album was recorded in a rapid manner, with songs improvised.[9] Murphy wondered if he would be able to replicate the performances while on tour:

"The songs are all in a high register — so now I have to learn to sing that way. I keep asking, 'My God, how did I get that high? How do I get that high again, and how do I sustain it for an hour?'"[9]

Track listing

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  1. "Hang Up" – 5:44
  2. "I Am My Own Name" – 5:46
  3. "Low Tar Stars" – 4:12
  4. "I’m On Your Side" – 5:29
  5. "Compression" – 6:12
  6. "Holy Clown" – 4:14
  7. "The Rose" – 3:36
  8. "The Ghost of Shokan Lake" – 6:28
  9. "Eliza" – 3:23
  10. "Loctaine" – 6:25
  11. "Lion" – 4:41

Release history

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Country Date Label
United Kingdom[10] 2 June 2014 Loma Vista/Nettwerk Records
United States[2] 3 June 2014

Personnel

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  • Peter Murphy - vocals
  • Eddie Banda - drums, keyboards, programming, engineering, mixing
  • Martin Destroyer - guitar (track 4)
  • Pavan Sharda - guitar (track 5)
  • Michael Rendall - keyboards, programming, engineering, mixing
  • Youth - bass guitar, guitar, keyboards, programming, production, mixing
  • Emilio DiZefalo - violin

References

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  1. ^ "Lion - Peter Murphy | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  2. ^ a b Coplan, Chris (27 March 2014). "Peter Murphy confirms Lion release date, announces North American tour". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  3. ^ Grow, Kory (6 May 2013). "Bauhaus' Peter Murphy: "Doctors Give Out Antidepressants Like Smarties or M&Ms Now"". The Village Voice. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  4. ^ a b c Graff, Gary (21 May 2013). "Bauhaus' Peter Murphy Working on New Album 'Lion,' Hunting 2014 Release". Billboard. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  5. ^ Young, Alex (5 April 2014). "Listen: Peter Murphy's new single "Hang Up"". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  6. ^ Heller, Jason (4 April 2014). "Peter Murphy would like you to "Hang Up" and watch his new video". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  7. ^ "Bauhaus's Peter Murphy announces 10th solo album Lion". Fact. 24 March 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  8. ^ a b Adams, Gregory (27 March 2014). "Peter Murphy Takes 'Lion' on North American Tour, Unveils Album Teaser". Exclaim!. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  9. ^ a b Sheffield, Rob (29 May 2014). "The Batman Cometh: Peter Murphy Returns With Goth Epic 'Lion'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 29 May 2014.
  10. ^ Coplan, Chris (24 March 2014). "Peter Murphy will release new album Lion in June". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
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