Released 1990 Genre Alternative rock Label Beggars Banquet, RCA | Format 7" vinyl, CD Length 3:51 Writer(s) Peter Murphy | |
"A Strange Kind of Love" is a song by English musician Peter Murphy, from his third solo studio album, Deep (1989). Produced by Murphy himself and Simon Rogers, it was released as the third single off the album in 1990 through Beggars Banquet and RCA Records.
Contents
Even though the song didn't maintain the mainstream success of the previous single, "Cuts You Up", it charted on US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks, peaking at number 21.
Music
The song mostly features the use of acoustic guitar. Murphy sings first with low intensity. In the mid-song transition, the slightly-reverbed vocals are performed with "more overt projection and power," which were described to be "just enough to give the arrangement a sense of vastness." The song also features a "mournful synth-reed part" towards the song's conclusion, performed by collaborator Paul Statham, described by Ned Raggett of AllMusic as "almost a gentle requiem."
Critical reception
In his review for Deep, Ned Raggett of Allmusic described "A Strange Kind of Love" as "a striking love song, with acoustic guitar and plaintive Statham keyboards supporting one of Murphy's strongest lyrics and performances." In his separate track review, Raggett also described it as "an understated ballad that finds Murphy at his most personal and affecting, one that contrasts greatly with the equally close but musically surging 'Cuts You Up'" and stated that "Strange Kind of Love" is "perhaps one of Murphy's most affecting overall works in solo or group work either way." CD Review magazine wrote that "A Strange Kind of Love" "communicates feelings of hope," in contrast to "the dreary melodies and dark, foreboding rhythms that defined much of Bauhaus' music."