The legacy of Bowie’s Hauntology

Last week Steen Christiansen posted an introduction to his essay, David Bowie’s Hauntology, which was accepted for a most interesting conference, Uncanny Media.

My initial random thoughts led me to associate the Hunger, the first postmodern vampire film which co-stared Bowie alongside Catherine Deneuve and Susan Sarandon. Which led to a review of the band Bauhaus, whose cult classic song, “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” is featured in the opening scene being performed by front man Peter Murphy.

That review of Bauhaus has apparently vanished in a most uncanny way into the digital ether. Perhaps my review and the relationship between Bauhaus and Bowie’s hauntology was not so clever so I won’t try and recreate it. However, I’ve just learned that Bauhaus has recorded and released a new album, the first since their breakup some 20 years ago. Bauhaus was a central band for me in the 80’s and this new album, from the tracks I’ve sampled, sounds every bit as authentically Bauhaus without sounding kitsch like so many “reunion tour” bands do.

Bonus. The album art and poster was created by the legendary “street artist” Shepard Fairey. See his signature Obey Giant logo at the bottom left, next to the signature Bauhaus logo.

Update: Well, I just couldn’t resist. I haven’t received my album (ok, it’s a CD and I know that too is just so last millennium) yet my signed and numbered Fairey prints (both the black and silver) arrived this morning!