Do Bauhaus get enough credit?

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I feel as if they're under-canonized. For the sake of argument: why doesn't Bauhaus get the canonical treatment of all those post-punk bands who weren't nearly as good? Or, devil's advocate: why not a full-on Joy Division treatment?

(Is it the goth thing? Is it just that "don't look, pretend we never did that" embarrassing-childhood-haircut approach? But then shouldn't they be starting to get really cool again in about 6-10 months?)

― nabisco (nabisco), Thursday, 13 February 2003 17:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Unfortunately, they get too much credit from those who lack credibility (goths who look like extras from "The Adams Family"). Because of the band's (and their nation of fans') tonsorial and sartorial shenanigans, the band's music is largely overlooked.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 13 February 2003 17:19 (twenty-two years ago)

...and that's a shame, `cos they were remarkable in their day.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 13 February 2003 17:20 (twenty-two years ago)

No. They do NOT get enough credit. We can never sing the praises of Bauhaus highly enough.

It *IS* the Goth taint, and it is the dodgy pineapple-mullets, I swear that's what stops people from taking them seriously, cause when I play people the music, they're invariably impressed. I mean, honestly, I've seen FAR worse at On The Rocks or Catch 22 than I've seen in Bauhaus promo photos.

So, yeah. The Bauhaus re-evaluation starts here. You heard it here first.

― KATE, Thursday, 13 February 2003 17:20 (twenty-two years ago)

They were great live. But rubbish really - I mean you wouldn't want to listen to a *record* of theirs. Hell, no. Well some Americans might.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Thursday, 13 February 2003 17:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Also, they were a bit unjustly maligned in their homeland (witness the good Doctor's comments above).

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 13 February 2003 17:23 (twenty-two years ago)

well you know how i feel about it, and Keiko thinks that for a short time they were the best band in the world - not knowing the dates precisely i'm inclined to agree. i agree that it is VERY odd that "sunglasses at night" gets re-vogued but not "honeymoon croon" for instance.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Thursday, 13 February 2003 17:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Still incredibly underrated, still an extremely varied band, and still able to make it work live after an initial 'for the money' reunion turned into some of the best live shows I've ever seen back in 1998. My AMG reviews go into further slavering detail, but any band that was able to do things like "In the Flat Field," "Nerves," "Mask," "Hollow Hills," "Kick in the Eye," "Swing the Heartache," "All We Ever Wanted Was Everything," etc. is all right by me. Oh, and a definitive cover of "Third Uncle" as well -- David J's bass line and Daniel Ash's guitar work on that one still just tears my head off.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 13 February 2003 17:45 (twenty-two years ago)

And one of the few bands ever to use stereo chorus effects in a way that didn't make me want to reach through the speakers and throttle them!

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Thursday, 13 February 2003 17:50 (twenty-two years ago)

why not a full-on Joy Division treatment?

Peter Murphy was out of rope.

― TMFTML (TMFTML), Thursday, 13 February 2003 17:58 (twenty-two years ago)

They were inspired. I love it all. And Tones on Tail and L&R up to Express. "Seventh Dream" was my Sgt.Pepper.Or maybe Zen Arcade was I can't remember. No, wait a minute, Sgt.Pepper was my Sgt.Pepper(as a wee lad). Plus, they went out in a blaze of glory. Their last album is their best.I did an Interpol review and said basically,forget Joy Division is their a band around now even as good as Bauhaus? They never get old for me. They always sound cool. Is it because I'm an amurican?

― Scott Seward, Thursday, 13 February 2003 18:06 (twenty-two years ago)

bela legosi's dead is awesome.
m.

― msp, Thursday, 13 February 2003 18:52 (twenty-two years ago)

"The Sky's Gone Out" was brilliant as well. and their cover of "Ziggy Stardust" is quite amusing. and "All We Ever Wanted was Everything" is stunningly gorgeous.

...but easily, the most omni-prescient thing they ever did was "Party of the First Part." >D

― janni (janni), Thursday, 13 February 2003 19:06 (twenty-two years ago)

I suppose the results of this thread indicate that actually they do get enough credit. Except from Dr. C.

― nabisco (nabisco), Thursday, 13 February 2003 19:22 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't know about underappreciated, they seem to issue with a different career spanning compilation every so many goths...I mean months. They have to have almost as many compilations as albums by now.

I'm not a hater, they were a good band. Bauhaus has to be one of the few where all of the members made some interesting music after their first band split up.

― earlnash, Thursday, 13 February 2003 20:00 (twenty-two years ago)

No, they don't get enough credit.

But what exactly is it they don't get enough credit for exactly?

Being great?

Surely being great is its own reward.

Wouldn't you like to be great? I know I would.

― mei (mei), Thursday, 13 February 2003 20:12 (twenty-two years ago)

Can someone please tell the Steve Sutherland story again?

― robertw, Thursday, 13 February 2003 20:18 (twenty-two years ago)

for some reason they are widely regarded as a joke in the uk, probably because of the goth associations. bauhaus however were truly fab and have aged with grace - their music still sounds great and 'kick in the eye' and lagartija nick' will rock any open minded dancefloor.

― stirmonster, Thursday, 13 February 2003 20:21 (twenty-two years ago)

They still are the best band in the world sometimes, you know. Bauhaus shirts don't wear as well as Joy Division shirts, and none of my friends likes them. I think they're harder to take seriously, in part, because they weren't as serious, and, yeah, they're way goth, too.

― Adam A. (Keiko), Thursday, 13 February 2003 20:46 (twenty-two years ago)

New Kids on the Block wore their T-shirts = they are more popist than anyone else.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 13 February 2003 20:56 (twenty-two years ago)

Their albums are grate but you have to admit the lyrics are often pretty damn silly...

― g (graysonlane), Thursday, 13 February 2003 21:20 (twenty-two years ago)

"Their albums are grate but you have to admit the lyrics are often pretty damn silly... "

True, but the same could be said about a lot of bands.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Thursday, 13 February 2003 21:34 (twenty-two years ago)

I thought they were supposed to be silly?

― Adam A. (Keiko), Thursday, 13 February 2003 21:50 (twenty-two years ago)

Because the Beatles didn't have some utterly ridiculous lyrics.
Everybody has there moments of goof.

― Hayden (Hayden), Thursday, 13 February 2003 21:56 (twenty-two years ago)

it just a different level of silliness i guess. granted most rock lyrics are silly.

― g (graysonlane), Friday, 14 February 2003 17:06 (twenty-two years ago)

I like Bauhaus alright enough, but it's kind of hard to take them seriously. The "goth" shouldn't be a problem, because Black Sabbath were a goth band but everybody loves them and namechecks them all the time. Yet I find a song like "Black Sabbath" to be effective, engaging (I thought this at 13 and I still do); whereas something like "Stigmata Martyr" just makes me chuckle.

I much prefer Love & Rockets, yet I never bought a single Peter Murphy lp. Perhaps that's it then? Perhaps it's Murphy who puts me off liking Bauhaus more. Bauhaus do some interesting things texturally; I think Ash is an inventive guitar player. But the rhythm section was mush. Even when they tried to rock they always seemed stuck in place; no swing at all. I also can't help thinking those earlier albums could have benefitted from better, more sympathetic production. That has a lot to do w/ what makes the Joy Division stuff so great.

― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Friday, 14 February 2003 19:38 (twenty-two years ago)

Watch the "Bauhaus:Gotham" DVD, recorded in NYC in '98. Ignore the annoying audience/sfx shots for the first 15 minutes of this thing. Trust me -- it takes off.. Watch the band. They *still* rock and the songs sound better than I remember back in my "teen goth'" years, when I idolized these cats. And before I rented this DVD I hadn't listened to a lick of Bauhaus for about 13 years.
I think they're one of a kind.

― Jay Vee (Manon_70), Friday, 14 February 2003 19:40 (twenty-two years ago)

Mr. Diamond: More or less OTM, especially the production comment. I think J and Haskins are solid, though. Bauhaus will always hold a place in my heart but I don't own any of the records anymore. I rarely feel like I should listen to them again.

― James Annett (jlannett), Saturday, 15 February 2003 02:21 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

Revive! due to art/glam thread.

No they do not get enough credit, not nearly at all. I read somewhere that Courtney Love said that Kurt Cobain's most worn out record was Bauhaus but it was a big secret because they weren't cred enough. To make this post timely, I will posit that Franz Ferdinand sound more like Bauhaus than any of the lame revival bands they get compared to.

― anode (anode), Saturday, 6 March 2004 16:54 (twenty-one years ago)

Interesting comparison there with Franz, hm.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 6 March 2004 16:57 (twenty-one years ago)

I just sold back three of their albums yesterday. I think Bauhaus does not get credit because they were not a consistant. You look through JD's back catalogue and it is pretty solid from start to finish. Bauhaus had like three decent tracks and that is about it. And when I say decent I mean Bela Lugosi was/is like mad over-rated.

The Cure > Bauhaus

― Born-Again Pubescent Undercover Pocket Nihilist Crochet Ninja (mjt), Sunday, 7 March 2004 01:14 (twenty-one years ago)

I think Bauhaus does not get credit because they were not a consistant.

Yes...and no.

― Lord Blackadder (Ned), Sunday, 7 March 2004 02:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Pete Murphy's solo career, and his collaboration with Mick Karn (Dali's Car), are alos quite underrated.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Sunday, 7 March 2004 02:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Can I also just say this: "Kick In The Eye". Oh yeah.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Sunday, 7 March 2004 02:23 (twenty-one years ago)

anode, that's a great Cobain anecdote. NOW we truly know why he shot himself.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Sunday, 7 March 2004 05:20 (twenty-one years ago)

Franz Ferdinand sounds like what Bauhaus song(s)?

― Adm Mhel (adam michel), Sunday, 7 March 2004 05:24 (twenty-one years ago)

they were pretty fucking awful. but...

crowds - which was the bside to the seriously worst cover of all time telegram sam - is an astonishing song. a hatefully poignant ballad love song voiced by a vampire. an all time favourite of mine.

can anyone suggest others in this, heh, vein?

― mullygrubber (gaz), Sunday, 7 March 2004 05:29 (twenty-one years ago)

Bauhaus were incredibly consistent. Every album has great songs. Their singles were amazing. Live they were amazing. I dunno what more you could ask from a band.

― scott seward (scott seward), Sunday, 7 March 2004 05:32 (twenty-one years ago)

Telegram Sam was great!

― scott seward (scott seward), Sunday, 7 March 2004 05:32 (twenty-one years ago)

I've always thought they were kind of silly. I do like a handful of their songs.

― Kanyeah West Shepherd (Andy K), Sunday, 7 March 2004 05:52 (twenty-one years ago)

Andy, your identity keeps mutating in curious ways.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 7 March 2004 05:53 (twenty-one years ago)

i dunno, i think that all four of bauhaus's studio albums were consistently great.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Sunday, 7 March 2004 05:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Ned, are you talking to me? Cos Andy's my real name.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Sunday, 7 March 2004 06:30 (twenty-one years ago)

"real"

― mullygrubber (gaz), Sunday, 7 March 2004 06:31 (twenty-one years ago)

""real""

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Sunday, 7 March 2004 06:36 (twenty-one years ago)

i still think of you as colin

― mullygrubber (gaz), Sunday, 7 March 2004 06:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Aha, Ned is talking to Andy K. And I am still colin. God's in his heaven, all's right with the world!

Whatsamatter gaz? Don't you like pretentious art pop? For shame!

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Sunday, 7 March 2004 06:38 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.elysiumplayground.com/scene/photos/gothgirls_corsets_redheads/1812%20goth%20tragedy%20and%20a%20rubber%20duckie.jpg

― Ari Upp, Sunday, 7 March 2004 06:54 (twenty-one years ago)

i don't mind pretentious. but thats different from plain silly. and whats pretentious about a cover of telegram sam? i just never felt they had the chops to pull it off but hey. i like bela lugosi too. and kick in the eye.

― mullygrubber (gaz), Sunday, 7 March 2004 07:00 (twenty-one years ago)

then again i was terrifically pretentious at the time. and i've never seriously got round to reassessing them.

― mullygrubber (gaz), Sunday, 7 March 2004 07:03 (twenty-one years ago)

Skipping 58 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

Are you interpreting my posts as complaints???

-- The Ghost of Dan Perry Wants More BLOOD AND GORE (djperr...), February 1st, 2005.

maybe donut christ takes the line 'LONG LIVE THE NEW FLESH' seriously...

― chris andrews (fraew), Tuesday, 1 February 2005 00:54 (twenty years ago)

LOVE AND ROCKETS + NED RAGGETT - SING BAUHAUS

...and the almanac.

-- Ned Raggett (ned@kuci.org ), February 1st, 2005.

it LIVES!!

― chris andrews (fraew), Tuesday, 1 February 2005 00:54 (twenty years ago)

You know, Nico sang with them once...

― Edward Bax (EdBax), Tuesday, 1 February 2005 01:28 (twenty years ago)

Kelly Clarkson? Brandy? WITH BAUHAUS?!?!?!

May the vermin of a thousand tenement buildings infest your underwear.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 1 February 2005 01:59 (twenty years ago)

http://fraew.orcon.net.nz/nedhaus.gif

ooooo 2-bit quality!

― chris andrews (fraew), Tuesday, 1 February 2005 02:13 (twenty years ago)

I rather like the idea of Colin Hay singing Silent Hedges.

― Edward Bax (EdBax), Tuesday, 1 February 2005 03:12 (twenty years ago)

the black and white image kinda reminds me of 'Rockstar Ate My Hampster', the old band-management 'simulator' on the Commodore 64 / Amiga...

― chris andrews (fraew), Tuesday, 1 February 2005 03:29 (twenty years ago)

http://www.c64gg.com/Images/R/Rockstar_Ate_My_Hamster_ingame.gif

― chris andrews (fraew), Tuesday, 1 February 2005 03:30 (twenty years ago)

wtf
im not doing coachella again

― come on sock it to me, Tuesday, 1 February 2005 04:23 (twenty years ago)

You know, Nico sang with them once...

With Bauhaus? BULLSHIT! When? Prove it.

Look, since Peter Murphy is not up for it, they're just going to get Britney Spears. It's not a big deal. It's still Bauhaus. I'm surprised at you guys. Don't you have any loyalty?

― Bimble... (Bimble...), Tuesday, 1 February 2005 04:41 (twenty years ago)

1. Third Uncle = Eno Cover?

― Nic de Teardrop (Nicholas), Tuesday, 1 February 2005 12:21 (twenty years ago)

I have (well, had, I cant find it) a bootleg record of Bauhaus indeed playing with nico - they did "waiting for my man", it was pretty rough but not bad. I love Bauhaus. I used to be obsessed with em in the 80s, but thats to be expected of me I guess ;)

― Trayce (trayce), Tuesday, 1 February 2005 13:05 (twenty years ago)

SHe just sort of mumbles along in the background, she didnt do much.

― Trayce (trayce), Tuesday, 1 February 2005 13:05 (twenty years ago)

You know, Nico sang with them once...

With Bauhaus? BULLSHIT! When? Prove it.

No, not bullshit. They performed a cover of "I'm Waiting for the Man" with her (odd, as she didn't actually sing on the original). It's on the b-side of some twelve inch. It can be found on the CD of Press the Eject.... Nico sounds half in the bag, but it's still quite cool.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 1 February 2005 13:09 (twenty years ago)

x-post, Trayce. sorry.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 1 February 2005 13:10 (twenty years ago)

Oh is it on Press the Eject as well? I havent played than in years. Damn. Oh wait I dont have it on cd that'd be why, heh.

― Trayce (trayce), Tuesday, 1 February 2005 13:10 (twenty years ago)

I actually have it on casette. Theres a throwback.

― Trayce (trayce), Tuesday, 1 February 2005 13:11 (twenty years ago)

It's not a big deal. It's still Bauhaus

Well, not exactly. Without Peter, they're simply Love & Rockets.

― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Tuesday, 1 February 2005 13:13 (twenty years ago)

Ciara sings "No New Tale To Tell"!

― The Ghost of Dan Perry (Dan Perry), Tuesday, 1 February 2005 13:28 (twenty years ago)

Can't wait for the Richard X remix!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 1 February 2005 13:36 (twenty years ago)

Well goodness me, I stand corrected on the Nico/Bauhaus! I never owned Press The Eject. I don't find it odd that she would have sung Waiting For My Man, though - she sang it live on her own several times.

Well, not exactly. Without Peter, they're simply Love & Rockets.

Technically, the three of them with Britney singing would of course be neither Bauhaus nor L&R, but some abominable distortion of decency and good taste. Your input on the matter comes off as a bit smug and in any case, irrelevant, especially since the following quote is yours:

Kelly Clarkson? Brandy? WITH BAUHAUS?!?!?!

― Bimble... (Bimble...), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 04:53 (twenty years ago)

1. Third Uncle = Eno Cover?

Yes. from Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) (1974)

― donut christ (donut), Wednesday, 2 February 2005 05:51 (twenty years ago)

three months pass...

Okay, so there's the other thread here but I think I'm going to revive this one in particular because relistening to In the Flat Field definitely reconfirms they didn't get enough credit, especially in terms of self-production. For a debut album they were *already* trying a lot of different things and doing it damned well. I'm thinking right now of how well and carefully a song like "Nerves" was recorded and mixed, the clarity of the piano part up against a monstrous Ash riff, the arrangement in general, Murphy's descending/ascending delivery of "STEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEL"...

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 16 May 2005 15:43 (twenty years ago)

Ned: the other day in a box with all my old cassettes I found Daniel Ash's first solo album. I thought of you.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Monday, 16 May 2005 15:49 (twenty years ago)

As well you should.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 16 May 2005 15:52 (twenty years ago)

"This Love" still holds up. And I seem to remember another sorta hit called "Out of Control" or something – great riff on that.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Monday, 16 May 2005 15:53 (twenty years ago)

"Get Out of Control," that's on the second album, Foolish Thing Desire -- which also has a wonderful zone/acoustic ballad "The Void," very much T. Rex drop kicked through the Seventh Dream haze.

The first solo album though is really a wonderful effort through and through, it's him just screwing around with both big huge fuck-off rock songs and quieter moments (thus the two different versions of the title track "Coming Down"). It's neat to contrast that one with David J's much more calmer all around Songs From Another Season, equally wonderful in a different vein.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 16 May 2005 15:57 (twenty years ago)

I give them credit for doing Ziggy Stardust even *better* than Bowie.

xposts: So, do these solo albums sound like L&R, or are they completely different?

― Bobby Peru (Bobby Peru), Monday, 16 May 2005 17:12 (twenty years ago)

David J's solo stuff is generally speaking more distinctly itself than Ash's, but that's not meant as criticism, more observation -- since J had already done some solo work between Bauhaus and Love and Rockets which was generally in a quieter, often acoustic-based vein, when he started up again he continued in that vein and, chunks of Urban Urbane aside, still does. By the time Ash got to his own solo work it was in fact that for the first time ever -- he took where he was going with the fourth Love and Rockets album as the starting point, wasn't as completely extreme (in either way) as either "Motorcycle" or "I Feel Speed," still did the business.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 16 May 2005 17:17 (twenty years ago)

Do either J or Ash approach the clubby Tones on Tail vibe on these?

― Bobby Peru (Bobby Peru), Monday, 16 May 2005 17:22 (twenty years ago)

three months pass...

I had a great experience with "The Sky's Gone Out" walking in the rain to work.

Ash is truly one of the most underrated guitarists of the 80s. I remember Dave Navarro citing him as a key influence in the Jane's Addiction days. The rhythm section did some interesting things, but the key thing is the band could really rock when they wanted to.

It seems to me that they wrote in the studio a lot. Most of their albums are heavy on filler. But the high points are deadly.

― Brooker Buckingham (Brooker B), Wednesday, 17 August 2005 15:22 (twenty years ago)

one month passes...

In 1983 on the radio I heard a Daniel Ash cover of Bowie's "Secret Life Of Arabia". Can anyone tell me what record that's from?

― sleeve (sleeve), Wednesday, 21 September 2005 03:47 (twenty years ago)

I think you might be thinking of Billy Mackenzie's cover of that song, which is on the first British Electric Foundation album. I've never heard of Ash covering said song.

Anyway, Bauhaus! Touring again! Gaining more credit I rather hope.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 21 September 2005 03:52 (twenty years ago)

i used to write bauhaus off, save for "bela lugosi's dead" and a a few other songs, but goddamn, i've rediscovered them in the past few months and they are GREAT.

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Wednesday, 21 September 2005 04:05 (twenty years ago)

ihttp://www.achewood.com/index.php?date=07062004

― jimmy glass (electricsound), Wednesday, 21 September 2005 04:08 (twenty years ago)

omgwtflol

― latebloomer (latebloomer), Wednesday, 21 September 2005 04:12 (twenty years ago)

one month passes...

Well that took long enough -- apparently it's just a straight port-over of the tapes to DVD rather than including any new material, alas. Which also means we get the goofy-ass framing device of the Victorian thief on the Archive collection.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 15 November 2005 18:55 (nineteen years ago)

two months pass...

they played here last night and tore my head of. i'm normally wary of bands reforming but they were actually better than they were when i saw them back in the day.

― stirmonster (stirmonster), Monday, 30 January 2006 20:33 (nineteen years ago)

one year passes...

i didn't know this band was any good until ...tonite! :/ :)!

― SusanD, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 07:09 (eighteen years ago)

So help me Bauhaus better tour here or I'ma kick some heads.

― Trayce, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 07:37 (eighteen years ago)

motherfuckerz be so rocksteady!!

― chaki, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 08:00 (eighteen years ago)

Bauhaus got turned down for a Barclaycard?

― Mark G, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 08:29 (eighteen years ago)

I like Bauhaus, not so much that Peter Murphy. The whole 'vampire diction' ruins it.

― circa1916, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 08:34 (eighteen years ago)

one year passes...

SHE'S IN PARTIES

― ilxor, Monday, 6 April 2009 03:57 (sixteen years ago)

IT'S IN THE CAN

― ilxor, Monday, 6 April 2009 03:58 (sixteen years ago)

They never did tour here ;_;

― one art, please (Trayce), Monday, 6 April 2009 04:11 (sixteen years ago)

Whoops, I missed this thread revive. Sorry. Just know that I'm with you in SPIRIT, LOL.

― Earl of Gothington Manor (Bimble), Monday, 6 April 2009 15:57 (sixteen years ago)

Bauhaus got turned down for a Barclaycard?
― Mark G, Wednesday, 2 May 2007 08:29 (1 year ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

Oh, for god's sake...

― Mark G, Monday, 6 April 2009 16:17 (sixteen years ago)

Okay I'm looking up the Spirit single version because of this thread. I hope you're all happy.

― Earl of Gothington Manor (Bimble), Monday, 6 April 2009 16:21 (sixteen years ago)

Bauhaus got turned down for a Barclaycard?

Made me LOL so hard...

― ilxor, Monday, 6 April 2009 18:56 (sixteen years ago)

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