Peter Murphy

“A Strange Kind of Love” by Peter Murphy, from Wild Birds 1985-1995 (Beggars Banquet Records):

Most know Peter Murphy as the frontman of Bauhaus — one of the original goth-rock acts — but his solo career has been surprisingly eclectic. Though prone to similarly gloomy atmospherics and chilly, dyspeptic lyrics, his music in the quarter-century since Bauhaus first called it quits has spanned from the regal, violin-driven dance pop of his 1990 hit, “Cuts You Up,” to the classically inflected Middle Eastern tones and fluttering electronic backgrounds of 2002’s Dust. His last studio album, 2004’s Unshattered, split fans who found the ornate arrangements a poor fit for his moody, shadowy croon. But, as with everything Murphy has done, his recent work has been imbued with stylish grace made easier by his evocative vocal style.