In 1980, after almost single-handedly inventing the "Goth" genre with their debut single, "Bela Lugosi's Dead," Bauhaus recorded IN THE FLAT FIELD for England's influential 4AD label. This CD retains the rather original album's rather daring cover art (a nude male figure) but adds eight tracks from early singles (though not "Belaà," unfortunately) to the 4AD issue's nine. IN THE FLAT FIELD is classic and influential, a deadly combination.

Though Bauhaus may be labeled as "Goth," the pealing feedback that opens the disc ("Dark Entries") and the anguished howl in the first line of "Double Dare" ("I dare you to be real!") prove that they arrive with the same punk rock pedigree as many of their contemporaries. Peter Murphy's vocals very nearly dominate the proceedings. By turns, he declaims, wails, and sings-even speaking in tongues on "Stigmata Martyr." His lyrics draw from popular culture, from Greek mythology, and from everything in between. The rhythm section of brothers David Jay (bass) and Kevin Haskins (drums) provides a flexible but extremely forceful backbone to Daniel Ash's squalling, often distorted, guitar sound. Make no mistake. This is a rock record-and one of the best, at that.