S Poddar
Bauhaus vocalist Peter Murphy will release his eagerly awaited album Silver Shade on May 9 through Metropolis Entertainment. The new album, with production from Killing Joke’s Youth, will be an engaging addition to Murphy’s long career. The record is “as powerful as any of my work to date,” says Murphy. Although complete information is withheld, it is uncertain if it will contain the surprise collaboration with Boy George last autumn. Nevertheless, one known cut already causing buzz is his latest single, Swoon—a track that squarely fits into his classic style but also has a special guest.
Swoon reunites two masters of dark, atmospheric sound, with Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor guesting on the track. The track throbs with a hypnotic mix of brooding synth-funk and dark intensity, capturing the kind of dramatic, gothic mystique that has characterized Murphy’s career. Talking about the track, Murphy reveals, “I am as much in the state of swoon as are my audience when they see me live. Trent Reznor graciously accepted my offer to feature on the track, bringing a welcome atmosphere on the second verse, as well as to the whole song in the guise of backing vocalizing.”
Murphy and Reznor’s artistic relationship dates back decades. Reznor, who had been influenced by Murphy’s gothic sound for so long, had his band Nine Inch Nails tour in support of Murphy’s Deep tour during 1990, the moment of contact cementing their mutual artistic respect for each other. Their careers again crossed in 2006 when Bauhaus supported Nine Inch Nails on tour, introducing a new generation to the group’s groundbreaking post-punk music. Then, in 2009, Murphy performed on stage with Nine Inch Nails in New York City, a live performance collaboration that was unforgettable and reflected their mutual love for dark, cinematic soundscapes.
Swoon comes at a fascinating point in Murphy’s career. With Silver Shade, he continues to develop as an artist while remaining firmly planted in the mysticism and theatricality that established him as an icon. His capacity to integrate gothic rock with electronics so effortlessly has kept his sound contemporary and innovative, and collaborating with Reznor only heightens this dynamic.
For Reznor, the collaboration is another installment in a long series of working with artists who have informed his musical DNA. He has always been a fan who paid tribute to those artists who preceded him, and recording with Murphy brings his reverence full circle. Fans of both will surely discover Swoon a hypnotic blending of their unique styles, merging Murphy’s warm baritone and dramatics-infused lyricism with Reznor’s industrial hallmarks.
With anticipation mounting for Silver Shade, the collaboration between Murphy and Reznor speaks to the lasting influence of each of their own legacies. Bauhaus, largely responsible for the development of goth rock, has maintained a lasting influence on alternative and industrial music, with Murphy continuing to be a force to be reckoned with in the genre. Reznor, meanwhile, has revolutionized contemporary music through Nine Inch Nails and his work in film scores, using his outside-the-box thinking on sound design.
With Swoon premiering now, fans can immerse themselves in the chemistry between these two influential artists. The track offers a glimpse into what Silver Shade might hold—an album that, if Murphy’s words are any indication, will be as commanding as his previous work. Whether or not his surprising Boy George collaboration makes the final cut, one thing is certain: Murphy’s creative energy is as vital as ever.
Murphy and Reznor’s decades-long history of artistic overlap makes Swoon an especially compelling release. It’s not merely a coming together of two artists but a collision of the legacies that have influenced dark alternative music for decades. With Silver Shade looming on the horizon, Murphy again demonstrates why he continues to be a relevant force in the business, able to pay homage to his heritage while breaking into new sonic ground.
