Bauhaus ‎– Mask VG+/G+ (’81 UK Pressing)

Bauhaus’s sophomore effort, Mask, arrived in 1981, a confident stride forward from their debut. While retaining the dark, post-punk foundation that established them, Mask experimented with textures and moods. Keyboards and acoustic guitar weave their way into tracks like “The Passion of Lovers,” while “Kick in the Eye” and “Dancing” pulsate with unexpected funk rhythms and saxophone flourishes. The title track itself chills with Peter Murphy’s vocals draped over a backwards melody, adding another layer to the album’s exploration of shadows and light. Even the artwork, a stark black and white drawing by guitarist Daniel Ash, reflects the album’s exploration of hidden depths. Mask is a testament to Bauhaus’s evolving sound, a haunting listen that continues to cast a long shadow.