***: Focal Point : Bauhaus

It is now October ... the month leading up to All Hallows Eve ... And what could be more appropriate than to focus on the dark, eerie, moody and oftentimes experimental music of Bauhaus? (note the Bauhaus quote at the top of this blog!)

Here's a bit of a band bio:

Bauhaus were an English rock band formed in Northampton in 1978. The group consisted of Peter Murphy (vocals), Daniel Ash (guitar), Kevin Haskins (drums) and David J (bass). The band originally went by the name Bauhaus 1919, dropping the latter portion within a year of their formation. Bauhaus are considered one of the first gothic rock groups, creating a minimalistic, overbearingly gloomy style of post-punk rock driven by jagged guitar chords and cold, distant synthesizers. Throughout their brief career, the band explored all the variations on their bleak musical ideas, adding elements of glam rock, experimental electronic rock, funk, and heavy metal. While their following has never expanded beyond a cult, they kept their cult alive well into the '90s, a full decade after they disbanded.

Bauhaus first broke up in 1983. Peter Murphy began a solo career while the other members continued as Tones on Tail and, later, Love and Rockets. Both enjoyed greater commercial success in the United States than Bauhaus had, but disappeared from the charts in their homeland. The band reunited for a 1998 tour and on a more permanent basis in 2005. The group announced plans to disband again after the release of their final album, Go Away White (2008).

I remember the 1st time I saw Bauhaus. They frightened me. It was Halloween night and MTV was playing spooky videos. The video for "Mask" came on and I didn't know what to make of it, except that it was pretty bizarre and I couldn't get some of the images out of my head. The very next day I went to the music store looking for anything by Bauhaus and picked up "Burning From The Inside" ... I was never the same again ... Bauhaus' "goth rock" had changed me forever! To this day, I try to sing like Peter Murphy! Haha

I must admit that I was a little self-indulgent with this particular focal point, choosing more of Bauhaus' darker and experimental songs (my personal favorites), as opposed to some of their ventures towards danceable "pop" music ... With this mixtape, I wanted to capture what had initially grabbed me, shaken me, scared me, but utterly enticed and fascinated me that one fateful All Hallows Eve many moons ago.

As always ........ ENJOY!!!!!!

You may download the mixtape RIGHT HERE

And now, a few choice Bauhaus videos for yer viewing pleasure :

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>>>>a bit of RANDOM NEWS<<<<<

1st up, check out this cool Consequence Of Sound Fall Mixtape
(Subscribe to the playlist at Rdio and check out the liner notes below)

Also, below is an awesome mixtape from the Mixtape Sounds blog called
"The Haunting Sounds of Halloween // Vol. 1"

You can get the tracklist and more mixtapes right HERE.

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>>>>>>>VIDEOS ARE NOW<<<<<<<

Speaking of Bauhaus, here is a great cover of their song
"All We Ever Wanted Was Everything" by MGMT

Peter sent me this great new Tame Impala video ... Thanks, brother!

Some trippy electronic beauty care of AXXONN

And here's a lovely one from Echo Lake

Bloc Party's new video features a rather violent game of Red Rover

John Wendel sent me this incredible Dexter Romweber (Flat Duo Jets) documentary called "Two Headed Cow" ... Thanks, John!!!

Speaking of great 50's rock, Justin posted this one by The Collins Kids saying
"Listening to little richard version this morning and then found this! blast off! juvenile delinquency!" Haha! Cheers, J-unit!