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I think that it's impossible to describe Dead Can Dance's music without sounding like some Enya-ass Putumayo mom bullshit. Because yeah they totally combine aspects of wide varieties of "world music" with Medieval European folk melodies! And it all kind of comes together in a Gothish post-punk way that will tickle your inner fat Wiccan girl!
But what matters is that these melodies are fucking gorgeous. My stomach hurts when I listen to this band because it's so, so beautiful. See, that's an interesting thing about certain kinds of transcendent beauty. No matter how much I listen to Dead Can Dance, there is always something not quite obtainable about the experience that fills me with longing. My own existence lacks in comparison to the music, but I can't figure out what I'm missing. Now imagine that I wrote the previous few sentences about Heather Graham.
Lisa Gerrard's powerful, powerful, powerful and haunting voice takes over for the second half of this record, existing over layers of percussion and counterpoint. These sounds are unmistakably deep, dark purple in my head, and I feel like I'm collapsing into an endless pit of color and velvet texture as I listen. The fullness of the tones and instrumentation, the elegance of the voice-leading and arrangement, and the expressiveness of the vocal performances make this required listening for anyone who has considered liking music.
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14 comments:
That was a very passionate and sort of drugged-out feeling post. Very stoked to listen to this while I do my (AND MURPHY'S) dishes.
heather graham is not very attractive
Andy you mother fucker. I have done 85% of the dishes you've created since we moved in. ROOMMATE ISSUES.
you guys are going to have to do the dishes again after all this BEEF
I go to work all week and this is the thanks I get from
you two?
Also Peter grow some eyes Jesus dude.
Probably their best album, overall, though I guess The Serpents Egg is more popular. Into the Labyrinth is another great one, for those interested. Still, this is a fav, and one of the albums that got me INTO (like, real into) music. Nice upload.
I was going to comment that I didn't like this very much, but then track 4 came up and I feel differently about the whole experience. Strange.
I am at once flattered, and on the other hand concerned that my Twitter account is now tied to Dead Can Dance and probably has to start wearing frilly shirts
Rob - This is one of the few times that I strongly disagree with Allmusic's relative album ranking.
Patrick - Your joke, your Twitter account. That's my policy.
heard the new Piano Magic? it's essentially a new DCD records, minus Lisa and a few others.
I haven't heard that, but that sounds like something that I really care about hearing. Put it on the "to listen to" list.
p.s. rad blog. don't know why i've never linked to it??? it's linked now.
Not sure why you refered me to AMG but now that I look what they got up - they be trippin. Spiritchaster really kind sucks - 4 stars? damn. And the live album/DVD is so damn good.
I have the S/T so thanks for this.
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