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Rating: ****
"...The Song Of The Sybil..."
I both love and loathe this release.
Typical of most 4AD cryptically displayed releases – it has drop-dead gorgeous and deeply pretentious packaging – managing a kind of snooty disdain for actual informational fact that is quite literally breathtaking.
But then there's the music inside DCDBOX1 - and of course other adjectives start to surface in your vernacular that are less than sarky and more about ethereal rapture and general head-bobbing in the man-cave - as you glibly praise your consummate good taste for having anything by DEAD CAN DANCE in your house in the first place.
I do love me a good ye olde Brendan Perry Renaissance Rhythm with a Gregorian Chant juxtapositioned onto a Modern Classical percussive drone and all wrapped up with echoed I'm-giving-birth-to-a-Centurion vocals from Lisa Gerrard. And then the sung languages I don't understand – yummy. There is a behemoth here to explain, so to The Song of the Sybil...
UK released 19 November 2001 - "1981-1998" by DEAD CAN DANCE on 4AD Records DCDBOX1 (Barcode 652637210927) is a 3CD and 1DVD Career Retrospective featuring Demo Sessions, Album Tracks, Non-LP EPs, Outtakes from Album Sessions, Compilation Exclusives, Previously Unreleased and Their Last Studio Recording from 1998. It is presented in a Hard Card Outer Slipcase, Outer Single Page Credits Sheet and inside a 103-Page Embossed Book with Pouches for the 3CDs and 1DVD. It plays out as follows:
CD1 (76:17 minutes):
1. Frontier (Demo)
Track 1 is an early version recorded in Melbourne in 1981; included on the 29 June 1987 UK 2LP compilation "Lonely Is An Eyesore" on 4AD CAD 703. There is a version of the song on the debut self-titled album, but that is a re-record and remix from 1986
2. Labour Of Love (Radio)
3. Ocean (Radio)
4. Orion (Radio)
5. Threshold (Radio)
Tracks 2 to 5 recorded 19 November 1983 for The John Peel Show on the BBC. "Ocean" and "Threshold" were re-recordings of songs on their self-titled debut album while "Orion" and "Labour Of Love" were new songs and unreleased at the time – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
6. Carnival Of Light (Radio)
Track 6 is a second John Peel Session recorded 2 June 1984 for the BBC Radio 1 Radio Show – it is a re-recording of a song that appeared originally in the UK on the 12" 4-Track EP "Garden Of Arcane Delights" released April 1984 on 4AD BAD 408 (see also Track 7)
7. In Power We Entrust The Love Advocated
Track 7 appeared originally in the UK on the 12" 4-Track EP "Garden Of Arcane Delights" released April 1984 on 4AD BAD 408 (see also Track 6)
8. De Profundis (Out Of The Depths Of Sorrow)
9. Avatar
10. Enigma Of The Absolute
Tracks 8 to 10 are from their second studio album "Spleen And Ideal" released November 1985 in the UK on 4AD CAD 512. Track 8 features Andrew Hutton on Soprano Vocals
11. Summoning Of The Muse
12. Anywhere Out Of This World
13. Windfall
14. Cantara
Tracks 11 to 14 are from their third studio album "Within The Realm Of A Dying Sun" released 27 June 1987 in the UK on 4AD CAD 705
15. In The Kingdom Of The Blind The One-Eyed Are Kings
Track 15 from their fourth studio album "The Serpent's Egg" released 24 October 1988 in the UK on 4AD CAD 808
16. Bird
Track 16 from their first compilation "A Passage Of Time" released 21 October 1991 on CD in the UK on 4AD CAD 1010 CD
17. The Protagonist
Track 17 is an Instrumental recorded during the "Within The Realm Of A Dying Sun" sessions in April and May 1987 – released 29 June 1987 in the UK on the 2LP compilation "Lonely Is An Eyesore" on 4AD CAD 703 as an exclusive track
CD2 (77:46 minutes):
1. Severance
2. The Host of Seraphim
3. Song Of Sophia
Tracks 1 to 3 are from their fourth studio album "The Serpent's Egg" released 24 October 1988 in the UK on 4AD CAD 808
4. The Arrival & The Reunion
5. Black Sun
6. The Promised Womb
7. Saltarello
8. The Song Of The Sybil
Tracks 4 to 8 are from their fifth studio album "Aion" released 2 July 1990 in the UK on 4AD CAD 007 (LP) and 4AD CAD 007 CD (CD). "The Arrival & The Reunion" features David Navarro Sust on Lead Vocals
9. Spirit
Track 9 recorded for their first compilation "A Passage Of Time" released 21 October 1991 on CD in the UK on 4AD CAD 1010 CD – but also released September 1993 as one of two extra tracks on the VINYL edition of the "Into The Labyrinth" 2LP set on 4AD DAD 3013 (the other extra track was "Birds" – see Track 16 on CD1)
10. Yulunga
11. The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove
Tracks 10 and 11 are from their sixth album "Into The Labyrinth" released September 1993 in the UK on 4AD CAD 3013 CD (CD) and 4AD DAD 3013 (2LP Set)
12. Sloth (Radio)
Track 12 recorded live 16 August 1993 in the USA for the Santa Monica Community Radio KCRW Show 'Morning Becomes Eclectic'. Originally titled "Dragging My Feet" in 1993 - a version of the song eventually turned up as "Sloth" on the Brendan Perry solo album "Eye Of The Hunter" released 4 Oct 1999 on 4AD CAD 9015 CD
13. Brylar
Track 13 was recorded live 10 July 1996 at the Keswick Theatre in Philadelphia, U.S.A. – first issued as a Lisa Gerrard track on the 1996 US CD compilation "The Echoes Living Room Concerts (Volume 2)" on Echodiscs EDC 1002 (written by Perry and Gerrard) – see also Track 16 for the same sessions
14. The Carnival Is Over
15. The Spider's Stratagem
Tracks 14 and 15 are from their sixth album "Into The Labyrinth" released September 1993 in the UK on 4AD CAD 3013 CD (CD) and 4AD DAD 3013 (2LP Set)
16. The Wind That Shakes The Barley (Radio)
Track 16 also recorded live 10 July 1996 at the Keswick Theatre in Philadelphia, U.S.A. – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
17. How Fortunate The Man With None
Track 17 is from their sixth album "Into The Labyrinth" released September 1993 in the UK on 4AD CAD 3013 CD (CD) and 4AD DAD 3013 (2LP Set)
CD3 (71:22 minutes):
1. I Can See Now
2. American Dreaming
3. Tristan
4. Sanvean
5. Rakim
6. Gloridean
7. Don't Fade Away
Tracks 1 to 7 recorded Live at the Mayfair Theater, Santa Monica in California on the 1993 US tour – UK released 24 October 1994 as their seventh album -the Live Set "Toward The Within" on 4AD DAD 4015 CD. The song "Gloridean" was recorded for the movie (on the Video version of the "Toward The Within" release) - but omitted from the Audio Album (released here). Note: Lisa Gerrard did re-record the track as "Gloradin" on her first solo album "The Mirror Pool" released 21 April 1995 on 4AD CAD 5009 CD
8. Nierika
9. Song Of The Nile
10. Sambatiki
11. Indus
12. The Snake & The Moon (Edit)
Tracks 8 to 12 are from their eight and final album "Spiritchaser" released 17 June 1996 in the UK on 4AD CAD 6008 CD. The song "Sambatiki" was given away as an exclusive to purchasers of the US "Spiritchaser" Tour Program while "The Snake & The Moon" is a US Radio Edit Version of 4:14 minutes used for Promotional purposes in the USA (Warner Bros PRO-CD-8306-R) – the full album version is 6:11 minutes
13. The Lotus Eaters
Track 13 recorded 1998 at Quivvy Church in Co. Cavan in Ireland as a song for the follow-up album to "Spiritchaser" (the same venue used for the "Into The Labyrinth" and "Spiritchaser" albums) – the session were abandoned and this is the only recording from them – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED
DVD (Video, PAL)
Main Menu Songs (Produced and Directed by Mark Magidson)
1. Opening Credits
2. Rakim
3. Song Of The Sybi
4. I Can See Now
5. American Dreaming
6. Cantara
7. The Wind That Shakes The Barley
8. I Am Stretched On Your Grave
9. Desert Song
10. Oman
11. Gloridean
12. Tristan
13. Sanvean
14. Don't Fade Away
DVD Additional Performances
15. The Carnival Is Over (Directed by Ondrej Rudavsky)
16. The Host Of Seraphim (Taken from Baraka: A Mark Magidson Production/A Ron Fricke Film)
17. Yulunga (Spirit Dance) (Images from Baraka: A Mark Magidson Production/A Ron Fricke Film)
18. Frontier (Directed by Nigel Grierson at 23 Envelope)
19. The Protagonist (Directed by Nigel Grierson at 23 Envelope)
The plain white Hard Card Slipcase has A Single Credits Sheet glue-attached to shrinkwrap on the rear which of course falls apart the second you unwrap it. Inside that is a 103-Page Embossed Hard Card Digibook sporting 3CDs and 1DVD - all in Pouches (the CDs themselves in protective white inners). Credits for each set of songs follows, then lyrics (only those in English) and loads of mostly nondescript photos that are completely useless. The near 60-page band text history is impressive – peppered with those unexplained photos (too small in a non-LP sized package to be have any impact) and new interviews with the main protagonists – Perry and Gerrard. The front cover has DEAD CAN DANCE 1981-1998 embossed into the card and that's it. None of the pages have numbers, but after the liner notes part, at least the explanations of where each track fits in are thorough enough (I have provided catalogue numbers and full release dates). They also advise what is Previously Unreleased, Last Recording, BBC Material etc - and why.
The Audio is fabulous - Remasters by JOHN DENT and JASON MITCHELL done at LOUD except for Tracks 8 to 14 and 17 on Disc 1 which were done by JOHN A. RIVERS. Even as you get into say "De Profundis (Out of The Depths Of Sorrow)" from the album that made everyone sit up and take notice ("Spleen And Ideal") or The Cure-like early stuff like "Carnival Of Light" - the sound borders on Audiophile even it is that old. Dead Can Dance were notorious for Audio perfection (if it could be achieved) and when you listen to the lone guitar notes being picked out at the beginning of "Enigma Of The Absolute" followed by big kettle drums - you have to say that the huge soundscape really pays off in Remastered form. The other thing you immediately notice too is the clever crisscrossing of vocalists in their tunes - LISA GERRARD one moment then the deep tones of BRENDAN PERRY the next - the duo being the core and heart of DEAD CAN DANCE.
I can vividly recall playing the "Within The Realm Of A Dying Sun" album from 1987 at Reckless Records in Islington and Soho (when I worked there) and punters rushing to the counter wanting to know where all the doomy ethereal was coming from - and how come it sounded so damn good. "Windfall" with its dense keyboard soundscapes and breathy treated flutes always did it too - and here its sounds otherworldly good. And while I was intrigued by the moody organ of "Severance" and the Kettle Drums of "The Host Of Seraphim" with Lisa's staggering old-cathedral chants made real (both on "A Serpent's Egg") - I have to say "Aion" was the album that truly lifted my heart skyward. There is stunning audio on her multi-layered vocals on "The Arrival & The Reunion" while those huge synth and brass notes that backbeat "Black Sun" are killer (Perry wailing). But again if we wanted punters storming the sales counter - we needed only feature the Olde English Court dance of "Salterello" - its rhythms blasting out of your speakers with a clarity that is hair-raising (or is that a jug of Meade). And again the vocal pairing of Perry and Gerrard strikes up genuine magic with the beautiful and moving and yes lonesome "The Song Of The Sybil" - surely where Lisa Gerrard's Oscar winning journey to the soundtrack of Ridley Scott's 2000 movie "Gladiator" begun. By the time I reach CD3 with the prudish and dry "Toward The Within" - it is the "Spiritchaser" and "Into The Labyrinth" albums that kept me playing their albums. And who among DCD fans will be able to resist the fabulous "Spirit" - a groove that even Rock-Soul fans would dig - or the Middle Eastern camel ride of "The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove".
I found the Visual side of this release extremely disappointing. First up it's a DVD and not a BLU RAY and while that might sound nitpicking - you very quickly begin to realize the DVD's picture reproduction limitations when you play 'Main Program' which is the "Toward The Within" concert. The audio is fab, but the picture quality is not great at all - blurry in most parts and covering the band of seven musicians in only one or two angles. So when Lisa (looking like a witch version of Rick Wakeman in her long robe) goes into "Song Of The Sybil" - her vocals astound - like Kate Bush's taller and better sister - but the visual is only O.K. and barely moves away from facing her head-on for the whole duration of the tune. Brendan drags out that 12-string for the largely acoustic "American Dreaming" - and what a touching winner it is. The second Main Menu slot is 'Promotional Videos' that offers the five titles listed above. Best visually, musically and just plain Tom Waits mad - is "The Carnival Is Over" - that would be described as a trippy Terry Gilliam visual-fest meets Talking Heads jerkiness as horses in medieval drag and hats and bicycles and dogs go by - and all of it choreographed to Dead Can Dance music (nice). Some of the others are just film of volcanoes or shrubbery or dead tree stumps and quickly become tedious. The last is a 'Discography' - a nice touch and not mentioned in the book.
Packaging niggles aside - some years after the 47 Audio and 19 Video components of "1981-1998" sold out and with demand for a sort of Dead Can Dance one-stop compilation more accessible to the masses still in the air – 4AD slimmed down the original release to a 2CD 26-Track All-Audio variant and called it "Wake" (given the crap on the DVD above, it's hardly surprising they dropped all the visual content).
The compilation "Wake" was released 5 May 2003 on 4AD DAD 2303 CD (Barcode 652637230321) – CD1 with 14 Tracks and CD2 with 12 - and with that same quality Remastering - is available from many auction sites often for less than a fiver skydiver – a great British way to get into a great Australian band.
But if you want the seriously deep dive into DEAD CAN DANCE and are prepared to pay the big bucks - then "1981-1998" is the Ubiquitous De Profundis Summoning Of The Muse Seraphim Stratagem for you.
Go you Ambient Tribal Ethereal Abstract goer you...
