Latest news with #Bauhaus
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Peter Murphy Cancels 2025 Tour Dates Due To Ongoing ‘Health Issues'
Bauhaus frontman Peter Murphy has announced he will not be hitting the road this summer as planned, with ongoing health issues to blame for the nascent cancellation. Murphy announced his news via social media on Monday (June 2), informing fans that, 'It is with regret that, due to recent health issues, I will be unable to perform for you this summer. ' More from Billboard Cynthia Erivo Opens Up About Her Queerness: 'The More Yourself You Are, The Better Understanding Starts to Happen' The Roots Apologize to Fans After First Day of 2025 Roots Picnic Marred By Long Lines: 'Safety Will Always Be Our Number 1 Priority' Rod Stewart Postpones Las Vegas Colosseum Residency Gig Due to Unspecified Illness 'I am very much saddened by this news,' he added. 'This situation is hopefully temporary, and we will be able to announce shows in support of Silver Shade at some point in the near future. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding.' The forthcoming tour dates were set to see Murphy touring in support of Silver Shade, his first new solo album since 2014, with festival dates scheduled throughout the U.K. and Europe between June and August. Murphy's live appearances have been limited in recent years, with a heart attack necessitating the postponement of his 2019 residency at New York venue Le Poisson Rouge. A reformed Bauhaus would later cancel a run of North American dates in 2022 after stating that Murphy would be 'entering a rehabilitation facility to attend to his health and well-being.' In early 2023, the Celebrating David Bowie tour was rescheduled after Murphy underwent 'an unexpected medical procedure,' before he dropped out entirely 'due to ill health and doctor's orders to rest and recover.' In December 2024, an upcoming U.K. and European leg of the same tour was cancelled after it was announced Murphy had 'suddenly taken ill.' Murphy rose to fame as a member of Bauhaus in the late '70s, with their debut single 'Bela Lugosi's Dead' being considered one of the pioneering gothic rock tracks. Bauhaus split in 1983 after releasing four albums, and Murphy launched a solo career in 1986. His third album, 1989's Deep, would peak at No. 44 on the Billboard 200, with the single 'Cuts You Up' reaching No. 55 on the Hot 100 and topping the Modern Rock Tracks chart the following year. Bauhaus' reunions would result in a final album in 2008, with the group releasing their final single, 'Drink the New Wine' in early 2022. In May 2025, Murphy released his latest studio album, Silver Shade, which featured contributions from Boy George alongside members of Tool and Nine Inch Nails. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Janet Jackson's Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Hits H.E.R. & Chris Brown 'Come Through' to No. 1 on Adult R&B Airplay Chart
Scroll.in
02-06-2025
- General
- Scroll.in
In Hyderabad, the international style of art deco reveals itself in homes, with personal touches
Most discussions about the influence of the design style of art deco in India seem to focus on impressive buildings in Mumbai or Chennai. But tucked away in Hyderabad are quieter, equally elegant structures inspired by the subtle geometry and streamlined elegance of the style. – homes, commercial buildings, banks, schools, universities and cinema halls. In Hyderabad, art deco reveals itself gently, in understated domestic settings, with deeply personal touches. Presented in 1925 at an exhibition in Paris called the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, art deco percolated into many spheres of design, from jewelry and furniture to automobiles and even saris. In Hyderabad, the first art deco buildings were constructed in the 1930s and were in vogue till the late '50s. It was deployed by architects such as Mohammed Fayazuddin, Zain Yar Jung, the Austrian Karl Heinz and Eric Marret from Britain. Only around 1,000 art deco buildings remain in the city, bearing typical features of the style such as stylised floral patterns, sunbursts and vertical windows. Making an appearance Anuradha Reddy, historian and convenor of INTACH Hyderabad, credits architects Fayazuddin and Heinz for the city's art deco heritage. Her granduncle, the Raja of Wanaparthy, Ramdev Rao, built one of the first art deco buildings in the city for a new home he was building in the early 1930s. It is now the Muffakham Jah College of Engineering and Technology. Heinz came to Bombay as a refugee in the 1930s, fleeing Hitler's crackdown on the Bauhaus art movement. He made his way to Hyderabad thanks to the German Circle, a cultural group with close links to the country. Fayazuddin, said Reddy, had been educated at the JJ College of Architecture in Mumbai and then in the UK. 'Later on, while returning to India from England, he came via Spain and was greatly inspired by the Moorish architecture of the country,' she said. After devastating floods in 1908, Hyderabad began growing outside the old city. Newer areas such as Banjara Hills were being developed. The aristocracy of the princely state of Hyderabad were inspired by the flamboyance of the art deco style, which was already being embraced by royalty elsewhere in the country. Many had encountered this new style during their travels to Europe and were keen to follow the latest trends. These architects used the topography of the Deccan to build grand structures that came to be seen as symbols of a new age. They used geography and elevation of the area to great effect. Confluence of styles Indian art deco is unique because it used design elements from older periods in a decorative manner, said architect G Srinivas Murthy of the Architectural Design Foundation. 'Indian art deco has adopted elements from different styles – the jharokas and floral patterns from the Hindu temples, the pointed arches and jaalis from the Islamic architecture, the chaitya or the arch from the Buddhist viharas, and the columns and the grand staircases from Europe,' Murthy said. Hyderabad, with its influences from the Qutb Shahi and Asaf Jahi dynasties, incorporated the style and gave it a new syntax. From motifs like the swastikas and Om symbols from the Hindu lexicon to the geometric patterns on the city's older Islamic buildings, the Hyderabad art deco language had a syncretic vocabulary. Some buildings by Heinz were designed in the forms of ocean liners and airplanes, as did several art deco buildings around the world. Fayazuddin's designs, which include the Salar Jung Museum and the State Bank building, retain influences from Moorish styles. A rare repository Art deco buildings are characterised by the distinct use of curvilinear forms, parapets, rounded staircases (which gracefully resemble parts of circles) and place an emphasis on horizontality rather than verticality. 'Sunshades that swirl around a building, the top of boundary walls in the form of waves that rise and fall, as well as circular grills, are other distinct features of the style,' said architect Yeshwant Ramamurthy. Jeera Colony in Secunderabad is a treasure house of this style: around 30 sprawling art deco houses still survive. Built by Gujarati migrants in the 1940s, it is a residential enclave with pastel facades, decorative balconies (with motifs ranging from parrots and lotuses and even a boat) and the in-situ terrazzo finish flooring that makes this street a portal into the past, even as the rest of the city surged forward. Other prominent art deco structures in Hyderabad are the Arts College at Osmania University, the Zinda Tilismath building, the State Bank of Hyderabad in Gunfoundry, the Congress Bhavan, Arya Samaj Mandir, Niloufer Hospital and the State Central Library at Afzal Gunj. Many are dotted across older colonies in the city, including the bylanes of Afzal Gunj, Padma Rao Nagar, Himayat Nagar and parts of Secunderabad. The future of these buildings, though, is in question as many are increasingly being demolished (including the Secunderabad railway station in February). As Hyderabad marches into the future, its art deco legacy stands at a crossroads, caught between reverence and redevelopment. Why are these structures important and in need of being saved? 'Why is the Charminar important?' said Reddy. 'Why were the participants of Miss World [held in Hyderabad at the end of May] taken to the Old City and not the gleaming glass buildings of Hitech City? Because heritage tells us the story of who we are, and art deco tells us of an important period of our heritage where we married international design with local sensibilities.' Added Ramamurthy, these art deco buildings are 'anchors to the sensibilities of a city and showcases its history'.
AsiaOne
01-06-2025
- AsiaOne
Tea houses and UFO villages: The ultimate 5-day guide to Taipei, Travel News
Taipei hums in layers. Temples waft incense beside neon arcades. Locals start their days with scallion pancakes or hot soy milk, and end them with a cocktail behind an unmarked door. It's a place where centuries-old rituals coexist with pop culture kitsch. Every alley seems to lead to a shrine, a cat, or an unforgettable steaming bowl of deliciousness. What makes Taipei special isn't just landmarks: its contrasts add meaning and surprise us at every corner. Dumpling shops share walls with vinyl bars. Japanese-style bathhouses sit down the street from Bauhaus cafes. Old military villages become artist communes. This five-day guide is for the curious traveller, someone who wants their itinerary served with a side of chaos and charm. You'll wander from teahouses to techno clubs, hike a mountain before breakfast, and maybe have your fortune told… by a bird! And yes, there is an abandoned UFO village. It's real, weird, and oddly beautiful in that retro-futurist, crumbling-coastline way. Welcome to Taipei: modern yet timeless, fast yet thoughtful, with just enough eccentricity to help explore taipei in 5 days in ways that will feed stories you'll retell for years. Taipei is often overlooked on "cool cities" lists, but it shouldn't be. This 5-day, 4-night itinerary blends iconic sights with local secrets and surreal diversions. You'll start midweek and finish with a weekend buzz, when the city leans into its creative energy and caffeinated charm. Before you go: Where to stay The city's MRT makes everything accessible, so base yourself on your vibe. For cafes, leafy streets, and a mellow pace, stay in Da'an or Dongmen. If you're into night markets and karaoke bars, try Ximending, where youth culture glows past midnight. In case you rather a mix of the above, Zhongshan has design hotels, riverside paths, and low-key speakeasies. And if hot springs or forest trails are more appealling to you, Beitou offers a retreat feel, just 30 minutes from the city centre. Day 1: Peaks, parks & hidden pours Start your Taipei adventure above it all. A short walk from Xiangshan MRT leads to Elephant Mountain, a brisk 20-minute climb rewarding you with a jaw-dropping panorama of the city, with Taipei 101 rising like a steel bamboo shoot. Go early for a soft morning light. It's an energising first glimpse into Taipei's love affair with contrasts. From peak to past, descend into Sisi South Village, a low-slung warren of repurposed military homes just minutes away. Now a creative space, it blends indie shops, vintage memorabilia, and quiet courtyards with an unbeatable photo op: crumbling walls in the foreground, Taipei 101 towering just behind. Grab breakfast here — we suggest soy milk and a flaky shaobing — at a village cafe. After a rewarding uphill walk, it's time to explore Taipei's flavours Come midday, head over to Yongkang Street, a micro-neighbourhood punching above its weight in flavour. Start with a steaming bowl of beef noodle soup, Lan Jia Gua Bao or Yong Kang Beef Noodles spark local debates, then follow with icy mango shaved ice or a flaky scallion pancake from a curbside stall. Taipei eats best when you graze. Refuelled, dive into the creative chaos of Huashan 1914 Creative Park, a former sake distillery turned cultural powerhouse. Stroll among ivy-covered warehouses now home to design studios, pop-up installations, experimental bookstores, and even an upside down house! It's industrial bones with a creative heartbeat. As evening sets in, wander towards Ningxia Night Market, a more compact and local alternative to Shilin. Follow your nose toward sizzling taro balls, flame-grilled squid, and chewy oyster omelets. The pace is frenzied, and the flavors unapologetically bold. Cap your night with a cocktail behind a curtain. HANKO 60, hidden in plain sight as a vintage cinema façade in Ximending, leads into a moody speakeasy with jazz notes and retro glamour. This is Taipei's night in a nutshell, just enough mystery, just enough magic. Day 2: Urban oddities & neon dreams Start your second day with a step into the miniature. Tucked away in Zhongshan, the Miniatures Museum of Taiwan is a gem filled with painstakingly crafted dollhouses, pocket-sized palaces, and entire storybook towns rendered in meticulous detail. There's a surprising stillness to the experience. From tiny to ridiculous, head to Modern Toilet Restaurant in Ximending for lunch. This parody of fine dining invites you to sit on actual toilet seats while being served curry in miniature commodes and soft-serve swirled into tiny urinals. It's toilet humour at its most photogenic, the selfies are non-negotiable. Back outside, dive into Ximending itself. This pedestrian-only playground is Taipei's hub of youth culture: equal parts open-air catwalk and street art gallery. Hunt down niche fashion boutiques, pause for bubble tea, and catch live performances. Every alley pulses with colour and chaos. Or for something gentler, wind down at Capybara Knight, a cosy cafe where the world's largest rodents roam freely. It's a surprisingly serene moment: cappuccino in hand, capybara by your feet. When lights go down, they go big at Shilin Night Market, Taipei's largest. Towering fried chicken cutlets, sizzling oyster omelets, sugar-dusted mochi. You'll smell it all before you see it. If you still have energy, end with a nightcap at a tucked-away speakeasy like Ounce or Bar PUN, where cocktail theatre plays out behind hidden doors. Day 3: Coastal curiosities & imperial treasures Shake off the city for a morning of strange architecture and sea air. Head north to the area around Wanli UFO Village, a half-forgotten relic of 1970s sci-fi optimism. Originally a beachfront resort with pod-shaped Futuro and Venturo houses, the project was later abandoned. While many structures are gone or inaccessible, some remaining alien domes offer a glimpse into this surreal past. Note: Some structures are demolished or privately owned and may still be lived in. Being respectful is advised, as well as staying outside fences, and only taking photos. Access is limited and should be treated with care. Just south along the coast, Yehliu Geopark offers an entirely different natural strangeness. Wind and wave erosion have sculpted the shoreline into a geological sculpture park: mushroom rocks, honeycomb craters, and the famous Queen's Head. It's both alien and earthly, walking the trails feels like pacing through nature's art exhibit. By late afternoon, swap wind for dynasty at the National Palace Museum. Back in Taipei, this giant holds over 600,000 artifacts from China's imperial past: jade carvings, scrolls, bronze, delicate porcelain. It's a vault of millennia. Don't miss the jadeite cabbage and the curiously famous meat-shaped stone. For dinner, nearby Shilin offers refined Taiwanese staples, such as three-cup chicken or braised pork belly in polished, quiet restaurants. And if you're not ready to rush home, consider winding down at The Malt (near Zhongxiao Fuxing MRT). This cosy, low-lit whisky bar offers a sophisticated atmosphere with an extensive selection of spirits, perfect for a relaxed evening and a quiet conversation. It's the perfect counterbalance to a day of coastlines, time capsules, and dynastic wonder. Day 4: Grand statements & riverside revelry Start the day with grandeur. Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, crowned with its blue-and-white pagoda roof and flanked by sweeping staircases, is one of Taipei's most iconic landmarks. From 9am to 5pm, you can catch the changing of the guard on the hour: a solemn, balletic ritual that draws crowds. Beyond the central hall, roam among the beautiful surrounding gardens and lotus ponds. Late morning calls for a detour into Taipei's flea market underworld. Beneath the Fúhe Bridge, the air buzzes with barter and the scent of vintage vinyl. This gritty, sprawling market is a trove of randomness: jade bracelets, second-hand cameras, army jackets. It's dusty, chaotic, and deliciously local. Perfect for treasure hunters or people-watchers. Grab a late lunch from a humble vendor nearby or head back toward the east side for an afternoon among neon and nostalgia at the Taipei Pop Music Centre. This angular structure in Nangang celebrates Mandopop with immersive exhibits and striking architecture. Whether you're a Jay Chou fan or not, the vibe is electric and modern. Bike hauling: a great way to explore the city As the sky softens, hop on a YouBike and follow the riverside trail. The path from Songshan to Rainbow Riverside Park offers a lesser-seen angle on Taipei 101, framed by bridges, basketball courts, and sweeping water views. By twilight, Rainbow Bridge glows to life: a curve of LED colour floating over the Keelung River. Sunset here hits different. Wrap the day with dinner in the Songshan District, whether it's beef noodle soup or dry-aged yakitori. But before you call it a night, try your luck with one of Taipei's most eccentric divinations: fortune telling by a bird. Found near temples like Songshan Ciyou or tucked in night market corners, this delightful ritual involves a songbird picking a card revealing your fate. Strange? Definitely. But also a poetic end to a day that balanced power, play, and perspective. Day 5: Brunch & Bon Voyage Ease into your final morning with one of Taipei's quiet rituals: a traditional breakfast. Skip the hotel buffet and find a local favourite like Fuhang Soy Milk. There, a spread of warm soy milk (doujiang), flaky scallion pancakes, and freshly fried youtiao (dough sticks) offers more than sustenance, it's Taipei's heartbeat in edible form. For a last-minute stroll and souvenir fix, Dihua Street in Dadaocheng is a strong contender. Morning light filters over baroque shophouses filled with tea canisters, handmade soaps, dried fruits, and craft shops. You'll find it relaxed, walkable, and just the right blend of heritage and hip for a final wander. Whether flying from Taoyuan International Airport (TPE) or Songshan Airport (TSA), the MRT and airport buses make getting there painless. Just leave enough time to grab a last-minute pineapple cake or two. Until next time, Taipei This 5-day itinerary has swept from mountaintop sunrises to riverside neon, from imperial art to fried chicken alleys, and from cats in cafes to birds that tell your fortune. It's less about checking off landmarks and more about collecting moments, collecting memories that smell like soy broth or sound like laughter bouncing off a karaoke bar's brick walls. A short trip as such gives just enough time to find a rhythm. But don't be surprised if you leave with plans already brewing, whether it's to soak in Beitou's hot springs, hike Yangmingshan's volcanic trails, or track down more of those secret bars. Taipei lingers. In the details, in the snacks, in the strangeness. And if you've made it this far, chances are… you'll be back in no time. [[nid:716498]] This article was first published in City Nomads.
Local Sweden
30-05-2025
- General
- Local Sweden
Essential vocabulary for talking about DIY in Sweden
Until you've engaged a Swede in a discussion about, say, how best to sand a parquet floor, you haven't really understood them. They really come into their own when doing or talking about practical things. Here are some of the words you need to know to join them. Advertisement It's difficult to overestimate just how central practical projects like building, chopping wood and painting, known collectively as hemmafix (literally "home fix") or gör det själv (DIY), are to Swedish culture. One of the first things a young couple does when they move in together is often calling over their respective parents to paint and renovate. When they get a little older and buy a summer house or kolonistuga, they're likely to spend at least as much time beavering away at some useful project or other, like installing a new wooden deck (utedäck) as they are swimming or socialising. There's a reason why the fringes of each and every Swedish town are crammed with branches of building supply stores and DIY chains like Byggmax, Bauhaus, Hornbach, and Jem & Fix. Swedes can be reserved, but if you engage them in a discussion on a practical subject, such as how best to drain a boggy lawn, you will often find them willing to continue chatting almost indefinitely. The only problem is that as soon as the talk strays into this territory, many foreigners find themselves needing vocabulary they've never previously encountered. So here's a list of some of the words you need to know to join them in the conversation. Advertisement In every building shop you'll find a section for järnvaror, which literally means "iron goods", and covers all sorts of screws (skruvar), nails (spikar), nuts (muttrar), bolts (bultar), hooks (krokar) and much else besides. There are also still ironmongers (järnhandel or järnaffär), particularly in towns too small for an out of town retail park, which mainly sell these goods. Most jobs will require tools, such as a screwdriver (skruvmejsel), saw (såg), or an adjustable spanner (skiftnyckel), which was invented, incidentally, by the inventor Johan Petter Johansson in the Swedish city of Eskilstuna back in 1891. You'll need an electric drill or borrmaskin, which will often be a träborr (wood drill). If you live in an apartment with hard concrete walls then you'll need a heavier slagborr. A hammer (hammare) will come in useful. During a building project, Swedes often have a utility knife stuck permanently in their belt, which is often called a morakniv, after the leading brand. You'll also need a vattenpass (spirit level) to keep your angles straight, and a tum- or meterstock (a folding ruler) or måttband (measuring tape), to measure everything out. You'll need to keep all this in a verktygslåda (toolbox). If you're engaged in a more ambitious DIY project, you will probably need wooden building materials. Wood as a material is trä, but if you're burning it, it become ved, and if you're building with it, it becomes virke. Studs, the long, load-bearing pieces of wood used to build the frames for walls are reglar, planks are brädor, but when used to cover the inside and outside of walls they are called paneller, and can be either innerpanel or ytterpanel. Often it's easiest when covering a wall or roof to use råspont, tongue and groove panels that slot together. When you're putting on the finishing touches to a wall you'll need lister, or skirting boards. Advertisement Once you've made the frame, you're most likely to cover the wall with plasterboard (gipsskiva) or possibly chipboard (OSB or spånskiva). You might stick in some insulation or isolering first, usually mineral wool (stenull). If you're painting a wall you will need färg ("paint", literally "colour"), although to put it on you'll need to måla (paint). You might want to lay on some plaster (noun spackel or verb spackla). And if you want to sand (slipa) the wall to make it smooth, you will need use sandpaper (sandpapper), or perhaps a sanding machine (slipmaskin). Swedes don't tend to go for this in a big way, but you might decide to use wallpaper (tapet) instead. Redoing the bathroom is one of the most common renovation projects, and if you are convinced to do this, you'll need to get tiles (kakel), and grouting (fogmassa). If you are laying down a new bathroom floor, you might also need liquid putty or flytspackel, to make the floor slope down to the drain. Good luck!
Forbes
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Peter Murphy Finds ‘Clarity in Chaos' on New Solo Album Silver Shade
Peter Murphy It took Peter Murphy over a decade to release his new album Silver Shade. But as the legendary British singer explains, his recent return with new music — his first since 2014's Lion — wasn't the result of pressure or a plan. To him, Silver Shade arrived because it was the right time. 'Some of it had been taking shape quietly for a while, fragments, ideas,' says Murphy, who is best known for his work in the pioneering and influential Goth rock band Bauhaus. 'But the full shape of it only came together when it felt right. Also, again — due to the nature of the music business — between the making of the album and the actual release date, some time passes…which is what happened with this album. The songs came in their own time, naturally.' Silver Shade, which came out on May 9, is Murphy's finest and strongest work to date since he began his solo career in 1986 after Bauhaus' initial breakup. In comparing this new record with the preceding one, the singer says: 'Lion had its own tone, raw, dense, a kind of focused burn. That was nine years ago. With Silver Shade, I was in a different place. Older, somehow clearer in my intent. I didn't want to repeat myself. This time, I wanted more space in the music, more air between the parts. It's still intense, but the intensity is quieter, more internal. So yes, the process was different with new collaborators, a different kind of energy driving it.' Like with Lion, Silver Shade was produced by Youth of Killing Joke fame, who Murphy says brought a certain discipline and unpredictability. 'He knows how to capture a moment without polishing it too much. He's not afraid to strip things back or push them forward if needed. He helped shape the record's atmosphere without getting in the way of the songs themselves.' The new record, which features guest appearances by Nine Inch Nails' Trent Reznor and Tool's Danny Carey and Justin Chancellor, is not a conceptual work, says Murphy. 'Each song stands on its own,' he explains, 'but when you listen to the record as a whole, there's a feeling that ties them together. A sort of emotional continuity, even though each track explores something different, they all come from the same source, naturally. There is definitely a thread, though it's not obvious in a literal sense. The songs came from a certain place, a place of tension, change and reflection. I'd say the themes are about navigating through confusion, finding clarity in chaos.' Silver Shade opens with the electrifying danceable rocker 'Swoon,' which immediately hits the listener. ''Swoon' captures that moment of intensity," Murphy says, "but it's almost detached, it has that driving beat, that hypnotic rhythm that pulls you in, but there's something off-centre about it. The song isn't built on resolution. It's the sound of something being carried away, not necessarily in control, just moving. It came from a place of urgency, a need to get something across without overthinking it. Trent really understood that feeling, so his vocals tie in perfectly.' The title of 'Hot Roy,' another pumeling and driving rocker from the new album, is a reference to a schoolyard game; the lyrics also mention David Bowie and Mick Ronson. 'The rhythm is in your face, but it's got this tension running through it, like a secret under the surface,' Murphy says. 'You can say that 'Ronno' and 'Zigger' are nods to Mick Ronson and David Bowie, though not in a literal sense. It's more about their spirit, that influence they had on all of us who came up in the era of glam rock. The names in the song are a kind of homage, but more than that, they represent an attitude, that combination of glam, rebellion, and mystery.' A trace of Bowie-esque glam rock could be heard on the rocking title song, which also features Reznor. 'One of my oldest (in a sense of time) friends and writing partner, Paul Statham, was important in 'Silver Shade,'" explains Murphy.'It sums up that idea of contrast: light and dark, clarity and confusion. It's a place where things don't fully make sense, but they're still beautiful in their own way. The production gives it a lush feel, but it's haunted by a certain melancholy. It's like standing in a space that's neither here nor there — the in-between." Murphy describes 'The Sailmaker's Charm' as the closest thing to a ballad on the new album, but it's also not a typical one. 'It has this romanticism to it, but also a kind of wariness. It's about being drawn to something or someone, but knowing that the charm could turn. It's a tug-of-war between attraction and skepticism.' Somewhat autobiographical, the hypnotic synthpop track 'The Artroom Wonder' draws from an experience in Murphy's youth when he heard a Bowie song at school. 'I was just coming out of the artroom, and I heard a piece of music which affected me deeply. I remember it to this day. It turned out to be 'Cygnet Committee' by David Bowie. This was very much in my mind when I was creating that track. The chorus is like a memory you sing out loud so it doesn't disappear.' Murphy's songs tend to feel cinematic, and the sweeping "The Meaning of My Life" is no different with its poetic lyrics and the singer's powerful delivery. "I suppose it is more expansive, more contemplative. It's asking questions that don't necessarily have answers, and that's exactly the point. We get caught up in the search, but maybe the search is the point itself. The song moves between hope and doubt." Ahead of Silver Shade's release, Murphy put out the arresting and beautiful single 'Let the Flowers Grow,' a duet with Boy George. Its creation began when Murphy came across musical fragments by George, who was also working with Youth, and decided to expand on them with the Culture Club singer. 'It's always interesting to see how these things evolve when they come into a different context. George has got such a distinct voice; there's nothing else like it. Also, we both come from that same 'outsider' space in a way. There's a natural respect because of that. The collaboration worked because there was no pretense; we just let the music happen. It was about connecting on a creative level and letting the song grow into what it needed to be.' MILAN, ITALY - NOVEMBER 22: Peter Murphy of Bauhaus performs on stage at Fabrique Club on November ... More 22, 2018 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Sergione Infuso/Corbis via Getty Images) In a solo career now going on almost 40 years, with the occasional Bauhaus reunion sprinkled in, how does Murphy view Silver Shade in the context of his discograpby? "I don't tend to rank my own work, honestly. Each record comes from a different place and time, different life, different lens. Silver Shade isn't trying to compete with what came before. It stands on its own. 'That said, I do feel it's one of the most focused and distilled things I've done in a long while," he continues. "There's no excess. Everything's intentional. It carries the weight of experience but doesn't lean on nostalgia. It looks forward. So, if someone said it's among the strongest in the catalog, I'd understand that. But as always, that is for listeners and fans to decide.'
