Date:    Wed, 14 Oct 1998 11:05:40 -0000
From:    Roy Burns <roy@LEWISCOMMUNICATIONS.COM>
Subject: I'm a rabid 4AD whore!!!!
 

Dead Can Dance A Passage in Time (4AD)

Since 1993's Into The Labyrinth, Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard,
betterknown as Dead Can Dance, have made enough inroads with American
audiences to be viewed as a strong cult act. Prior to that though, Dead
Can Dance was a cherished cult act in its native England. This
compilation (originally released in 1991), including material from the
duo's first four albums, as well as "Bird" and "Spirit," two tracks
specifically recorded for A Passage In Time, is a necessary introduction
to Dead Can Dance's formative years. While Dead Can Dance's recent work
has bridged together the worlds of chants and technology, the 16 songs
found here owe a debt to the Middle Ages. However, Dead Can Dance's sound
transcends not only any one genre, but also any one century. Haunting,
spiritual, beautiful and timeless, Dead Can Dance is unlike any act in
popular music at this time, or possibly any other. What distinguishes
Dead Can Dance from other acts who have ventured into the netherworld
realms are the striking vocals of both Perry and Gerrard.Both, though
Gerrard's uplifting, ethereal voice in particular, possess the ability to
lift listeners into the netherworlds with them. Perry's more chilling
vocals are showcased often on A Passage In Time, especially onthe closing
"Spirit." However, the obvious gifts of both resonate on A Passage.
 
--Steve Baltin