Dust

Album review

Peter Murphy took six years in between his fifth and sixth solo albums, although the Recall EP and the live effort Alive Just for Love captured what would eventually come next. His 1995 release Cascade tested his dark rock & roll roots while adding musical elements of the Eastern world. It was stylishly optimistic and sonically gorgeous, typical Murphy. By the new millennium, he reinvented himself. Dust marked his spanking new sound, naturally and tastefully. Murphy and world instrumentalist Mercan Dede went for a vast mix of prog rock, trance, and classical music on Dust. Murphy's lyrical depth transforms into individual dreamscapes, particularly on the tribal beats of "Things to Remember." Murphy's spoken-word chant tangos the song's chorus for Dust to rouse a raw desire. The rhythm escalates with a backing section made of distinguished Turkish and Canadians musicians. Violinist Hugh Marsh and jazz bassist Jamaaladeen Tacuma guide Murphy's lyrical visions to a higher, spiritual place. "Your Face" is a swaggering mix of electronic textures, hauntingly similar to the dark beauty of Murphy's first album, Should the World Fail to Fall Apart. Older tracks "My Last Two Weeks" and the epilogue of "Subway" are reworked as well. Murphy has bravely restructured the simplicities of each song, introducing a massy richness. Dust itself materializes into a new chapter for Murphy. He's crafted a successful solo career to his own liking, never sticking to one formula. Dust is a stunning look into his exotic, sharp imagination and a vibrant effort for those who've watched him evolve.
© MacKenzie Wilson /TiVo