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SPLEEN AND IDEAL is a profoundly different sounding record than its self-titled predecessor. It seems to have been recorded in a completely different time, perhaps by the 14th century ancestors of Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard, if they had access to electric guitars and synthesizers. The tracks are all stately, muted affairs that actually managed to evoke the images that their titles suggest--the best example of this is the brittle, gorgeous "Circumradiant Dawn," which sounds like a hymn written to accompany Earth's very first sunrise.
Among the standouts here are "De Profundis (Out of the Depths of Sorrow)," where Lisa Gerrard's voice soars above the haunting, sustained chords of the music; "Ascension," with its moody trombones and a cavernous echo so deep you can feel the space around you expanding and contracting; and "Avatar," which makes traditional rock & roll instrumentation sound astonishingly alien. SPLEEN AND IDEAL really hits its peak, however, with "Enigma of the Absolute." Brendan Perry's soft, deep voice resonates around each syllable, accompanied by sawed violins, a muted bass drum thumping in the background, and an exceptionally bright-sounding hurdy-gurdy. If you buy only one Dead Can Dance record, it ought to be this one.
Audio Remasterer: John A. Rivers.
Recording information: Woodbine St. Recording Studios (09/1985-11/1985).
Photographer: Colin Gray.
Unknown Contributor Role: James Pinker.
Dead Can Dance: Lisa Gerrard , Brendan Perry (vocals, various instruments).
Personnel: Andrew Hutton (soprano); Carolyn Costin (violin); Martin McGarrick, Martin McCarrick, Gus Ferguson (cello); Simon Hogg, Richard Avison (trombone); Tony Ayres, James Pinker (timpani).
Additional personnel: Andrew Hutton (vocals); Martin McGarrick (cello); Simon Hogg (trombone); Tony Ayres (timpani); Gus Ferguson, James Pinker, Richard Avison.
Must be in the mood Have to be in the mood to appreciate this album. A bit dull sometimes. Doesn't meet the quality of the soundtrack of the movie 'The Insider' Submitted by a reviewer (Doylestown, PA, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
first steps outside after hearing the self titeled release , I was hooked, due to the similarities of Joy Division, in Brendans voice and the whole styling of the record, When I played Slpeen and Ideal, I realized these people, this project called Dead Can Dance, were more about exploration, of the human drama, then punk antichist, the entire record lifts and breezes through, the halls of civilization, turning in upon itself, the music, seems to attain its on physical body, and projects its details of Id and Ego, into the listeners ear, I love This Record. Submitted by dizzydino29 (San Francisco Ca) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
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