This is such an enjoyable read because you never pretend to be an authority—you let us experience the discovery alongside you. I particularly loved how you began by documenting your expectations before pressing play, then allowed the music to reshape them. That's genuine curiosity in action. We've all had artists we've unfairly overlooked, and this is a wonderful reminder that great music waits patiently until we're ready to hear it. I suspect this won't be your last journey into Dead Can Dance.
Your comments brought a smile to my face. How right you are. This was me opening the door to “hell’s darkened chamber”. I’ve stepped inside, and will now inhabit it. I’m allowing many of their songs to live in my playlists and seep into my subconcious.
I didn't know the Church were your favorite band mine too. Love Dead Can Dance and alot of the 4ad stuff. This was a nice article about a band who deserves to be heard. Thank you. I met Mike Burgess at SXSW. Nice fellow.
Oh wow. Would have been startstruck meeting Mark Burgess.
I have met Steve Kilbey 3 times in 2 different decades.
And Marty twice in person and several times virtually.
both were amazing and very warm to me. Despite any band drama (and internal band strife) I hold both in high regard as human beings always.
I also met conversed with Peter koppes when he first quit the band and when he was about to come back and met him together with Marty and Steve at a record store meet and greet that I helped organize in Minneapolis during their hologram of Baal tour.
and I’m hoping my next post will be my rating of all 27 of their albums.
This is one of my all-time favourite bands, Ali. I have (almost) everything they've released, both together and solo. I even own the complete box set of their 2005 tour: 24 concerts on 24 discs, all sounding more or less identical. That's how far the obsession goes. 😁
I've seen them live three times, and they were absolutely brilliant on every occasion. Their music is timeless.
Your remark about sword-and-sandal epics really struck a chord with me. It's Lisa Gerrard's voice that elevates the Gladiator soundtrack into one of the defining film scores of the past 30 years. Without taking anything away from Hans Zimmer, I think that soundtrack was the one that truly cemented his status as an icon of film music.
As you know, Dead Can Dance, Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard all predate Gladiator by quite a few years. If you love Brendan Perry's voice and songwriting, do check out his solo work, especially Songs of Disenchantment: Music from the Greek Underground. He returns to his Greek roots and performs traditional Greek drinking songs like only he can.
Then again... whatever they do is pretty much perfect music in my book. 😁
From a super fan that endorsement humbles me and I’m grateful. Ok so you confirm what I felt listening to it. The whole time it was eerily familiar. I kept thinking to myself where have I heard this before!!!
I appreciate the recommendations for further rabbit holes to traverse. I must admit. My initial listens have me on team Gerard 😉
I was sad to learn she left the band.
But I like Perry’s writing instrumentation and guitars. So will check out his solo stuff.
Thank you for always bringing my attention to bands that I've always known about but haven't listened to enough.
This is such an enjoyable read because you never pretend to be an authority—you let us experience the discovery alongside you. I particularly loved how you began by documenting your expectations before pressing play, then allowed the music to reshape them. That's genuine curiosity in action. We've all had artists we've unfairly overlooked, and this is a wonderful reminder that great music waits patiently until we're ready to hear it. I suspect this won't be your last journey into Dead Can Dance.
Your comments brought a smile to my face. How right you are. This was me opening the door to “hell’s darkened chamber”. I’ve stepped inside, and will now inhabit it. I’m allowing many of their songs to live in my playlists and seep into my subconcious.
I didn't know the Church were your favorite band mine too. Love Dead Can Dance and alot of the 4ad stuff. This was a nice article about a band who deserves to be heard. Thank you. I met Mike Burgess at SXSW. Nice fellow.
Oh wow. Would have been startstruck meeting Mark Burgess.
I have met Steve Kilbey 3 times in 2 different decades.
And Marty twice in person and several times virtually.
both were amazing and very warm to me. Despite any band drama (and internal band strife) I hold both in high regard as human beings always.
I also met conversed with Peter koppes when he first quit the band and when he was about to come back and met him together with Marty and Steve at a record store meet and greet that I helped organize in Minneapolis during their hologram of Baal tour.
and I’m hoping my next post will be my rating of all 27 of their albums.
This is one of my all-time favourite bands, Ali. I have (almost) everything they've released, both together and solo. I even own the complete box set of their 2005 tour: 24 concerts on 24 discs, all sounding more or less identical. That's how far the obsession goes. 😁
I've seen them live three times, and they were absolutely brilliant on every occasion. Their music is timeless.
Your remark about sword-and-sandal epics really struck a chord with me. It's Lisa Gerrard's voice that elevates the Gladiator soundtrack into one of the defining film scores of the past 30 years. Without taking anything away from Hans Zimmer, I think that soundtrack was the one that truly cemented his status as an icon of film music.
As you know, Dead Can Dance, Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard all predate Gladiator by quite a few years. If you love Brendan Perry's voice and songwriting, do check out his solo work, especially Songs of Disenchantment: Music from the Greek Underground. He returns to his Greek roots and performs traditional Greek drinking songs like only he can.
Then again... whatever they do is pretty much perfect music in my book. 😁
Thank you Twelve Inch.
From a super fan that endorsement humbles me and I’m grateful. Ok so you confirm what I felt listening to it. The whole time it was eerily familiar. I kept thinking to myself where have I heard this before!!!
I appreciate the recommendations for further rabbit holes to traverse. I must admit. My initial listens have me on team Gerard 😉
I was sad to learn she left the band.
But I like Perry’s writing instrumentation and guitars. So will check out his solo stuff.
But I like
Lisa's solo repertoire is very much in the same vein, Ali. She has released some wonderful solo albums that are well worth discovering.