Dali's Car was formed in 1984 in England by vocalist Peter Murphy, bassist and multi‑instrumentalist Mick Karn, and programmer Paul Vincent Lawson. After the breakup of Bauhaus, Peter Murphy sought a new outlet for his songwriting, while Mick Karn was looking for a frontman following Japan’s split; the two met through a Japanese journalist and were joined by Paul Vincent Lawson, who handled drum machines and later programming. Their debut studio album, The Waking Hour, was released in 1984 under a major label, reaching UK number 84 on the charts, and featured the single "The Judgement Is the Mirror", which peaked at UK number 66. Despite the modest commercial performance, the album’s experimental blend of rock and avant‑guitar work earned critical attention. The group’s only live appearance was a BBC2 performance of "His Box" during The Old Grey Whistle Test, after which internal tensions led to a brief split later that year. In 2010, Peter Murphy and Mick Karn attempted to record a second album, but Mick Karn’s diagnosis with cancer halted the project; he died on 4 January 2011. Posthumously, the unfinished material was released as the EP InGladAloneness on 5 April 2012, featuring the re‑worked track "Artemis Rise" and receiving a dedicated fan release through Burning Shed in July 2011.
