It was an experiment never quite guaranteed of success, but when both vocalist Peter Murphy and bassist Mick Karn found themselves momentarily at loose ends following the breakups of Bauhaus and Japan respectively, there was enough interest on their parts to see what would happen. With beats via Paul Vincent Lawford as well, the resulting The Waking Hour is an unusual listen, defiantly arty and featuring some of Murphy’s most cryptic lyrics to boot, but songs like “His Box” and “The Judgment Is The Mirror” make for oddly compelling listens.

– Ned Raggett