Dead Can Dance: DCD SACD Box Set / Nine SACD Collection - 9 Hybrid SACD Box Set 4 A.D. / MFSL Japan Vinyl Replica

Dead Can Dance is the debut album recorded by Dead Can Dance in 1984. This album differs greatly from later Dead Can Dance releases. The instrumentation comprised of guitars, bass and drums with added percussion and the very distinct sound of the Yang Chin as played by Lisa Gerrard. This album has been at times described as post-punk or goth rock.
The musicians who performed on this album, as well as the EP, were Brendan Perry, Lisa Gerrard, Paul Erikson, James Pinker, Scott Rodger and Peter Ulrich. Erikson returned to Australia and was replaced by Rodger. The album was not released in North America for some time because 4AD wanted to have a proper label deal and not license the artists individually.
Modern English And Cocteau Twins were the exceptions at that time. The band touring was limited to Europe and Scandinavia during this period because the album was not readily available. The early live show was incredibly dynamic and very soon a dedicated live following evolved. In these early days, the band was run in a very democratic way.
Something that would change as the years progressed. The album was mixed twice as the band were not happy with the way it was sounding after the first pass, very much over processed. Being mixed by inexperienced recording artists didn't help too much either. The album would now benefit from a proper mix so that the songs could actually live for the first time.
The beginning of "The Fatal Impact" is taken from the 1964 film Zulu and was recorded off of a TV broadcast onto a cassette player. The Drum Machine used was built into the same cassette player. The percussion used was 3 upturned empty 5 gallon paint tins tied together. One of the main reasons this song was not performed live was due to the unorthodox instrumentation.

Dead Can Dance - дебютный студийный альбом австралийской группы Dead Can Dance, выпущенный на независимом британском лейбле 4AD в феврале 1984 года. На CD-издании добавлены треки с "Garden of the Arcane Delight" - единственного мини-альбома коллектива, изданного отдельно только на грампластинке. Альбом содержит треки, записанные за последние 4 года перед его выпуском.
На обложке альбома использовано изображение ритуальной маски из Папуа-Новой Гвинеи.




Garden of the Arcane Delights was released by the group Dead Can Dance on 4AD. This was the only EP release by Dead Can Dance and it was originally released as a 12" record. Later, the four songs were added to Dead Can Dance's self titled debut album when it was re-released on CD.
The cover art is a sketch done by Brendan Perry and represents the themes of the song "The Arcane". As Perry explains: …The naked blindfolded figure, representing primal man deprived of perception, stands, within the confines of a garden (the world) containing a fountain and trees laden with fruit.
His right arm stretches out - the grasping for knowledge - towards a fruit bearing tree, its trunk encircled by a snake. In the garden wall - the wall between freedom and confinement - are two gateways: the dualistic notion of choice. It is a Blakean universe in which mankind can only redeem itself, can only rid itself of blindness, through the correct interpretation of signs and events that permeate the fabric of nature's laws.




Spleen and Ideal is the second album recorded by Dead Can Dance, released in 1986. The line up continued with Brendan Perry, Lisa Gerrard, Scott Rodger, James Pinker and Peter Ulrich with the addition of Gus Ferguson on Cello. A rather ethereal form of gothic music, similar to the origins of its debut album, Dead Can Dance, and followed a more world music- and neoclassical-oriented content, with lyrics based on the writings of Charles Baudelaire and Thomas de Quincey. It is considered the group's best album from a lyrical standpoint.

Spleen and Ideal - второй студийный альбом группы Dead Can Dance, выпущенный на независимом британском лейбле 4AD в ноябре 1985 года. После своего выхода альбом достиг второй строчки в британских независимых чартах.
На запись этого диска музыкантов вдохновило творчество Шарля Бодлера и Томаса де Квинси. «Сплин и идеал» - название стихотворения из цикла «Цветы зла» Бодлера.




Within the Realm of a Dying Sun is the third album recorded by Dead Can Dance, by now predominantly the duo Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry along with Peter Ulrich, after the departure of Scott Rodger and James Pinker in 1987.
Lisa Gerrard's vocals feature prominently in the second half of the album, and her singing style often has mellifluous Oriental overtones, especially on the track titled “Cantara.” The cover's photograph was taken in Paris, at the Père-Lachaise cemetery. It features the family grave of François-Vincent Raspail.
With its two sides split between Perry and Gerrard's vocal efforts, Within the Realm of a Dying Sun serves as both a display for the ever more ambitious band and a chance for the two to individually demonstrate their awesome talents.
Beginning with the portentous "Anywhere Out of the World," a piece that takes the deep atmospherics of "Enigma of the Absolute" to a higher level with mysterious, chiming bells, simple but effective keyboard bass and a sense of vast space, the album finds Dead Can Dance on a steady roll.
Once again a range of assistant musicians provide even more elegance and power to the band's work, with a chamber string quartet plus various performers on horns, woodwind, and percussion. Impressive though the remainder of the first side is, Gerrard's showcase on the second half is even more enveloping and arguably more successful.
The martial combination of drums and horns that start "Dawn of the Iconoclast" call to mind everything from Wagner to Laibach, but Gerrard's unearthly alto, at its most compelling here, elevates it even higher. "Cantara" is no less impressive, a swirling, drum-heavy song that sounds equally inspired by gypsy dancing, classical orchestras and any number of Arab musical traditions. "Summoning of the Muse" is perhaps too formal in comparison, though still quite impressive, but "Persephone" is the finer effort and a good way to close.

Within the Realm of a Dying Sun - третий студийный альбом группы Dead Can Dance, выпущенный на британском лейбле 4AD в июле 1987 года. По словам Брендана Перри, главным мотивом альбома стало восприятие смерти. Фотография, использованная на обложке альбома, сделана в Париже на кладбище Пер-Лашез.
Это изображение надгробия на могиле французского политика Франсуа Венсана Распая. В записи альбома были использованы скрипка, альт, гобой, виолончель.




The Serpent's Egg is the fourth album recorded by the Dead Can Dance duo, Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. It was released in October 1988. It featured the song "The Host of Seraphim" which was later used in the films Baraka, Vexille: 2077 Japanese Isolation, The Mist, and Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole. Group performs "Echolalia" and "Mother Tongue" at 1992 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in Albertville.
The album was the last produced during the time of Perry and Gerrard's romantic partnership. Much of the album was recorded in a multi-story apartment block in the Isle of Dogs area of London.

The Serpent’s Egg - четвёртый студийный альбом группы Dead Can Dance, выпущенный на британском лейбле 4AD в октябре 1988 года. При записи альбома был использован 58 струнный китайский инструмент янгчин.
Песня «The Host of Seraphim» была впоследствии использована в таких фильмах как «Барака» Рона Фрика, «Легенды ночных стражей» Зака Снайдера и «Мгла» Фрэнка Дарабонта.




Aion is the fifth studio album by Dead Can Dance. The first album Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry wrote after the end of their romantic partnership, it was recorded at Perry's new estate, Quivvy Church in Ireland. The male soprano David Navarro Sust contributes vocals to the first track.
The album cover shows a detail from the Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch's triptych The Garden of Earthly Delights (specifically, its central "Earth" panel).

Aion - пятый студийный альбом группы Dead Can Dance, выпущенный на британском лейбле 4AD в июле 1990 года. Альбом записан на домашней студии Брендана Перри «Quivy Church» в Ирландии. Первый альбом, записанный после прекращения романтических отношений между Перри и Джеррард.
Альбом записан преимущественно в Ирландии, за исключением композиции The Arrival And The Reunion, записанной на студии Woodbine Street в Лондоне.
Диск развивает тему, начатую в альбоме The Serpent's Egg и предыдущих записях. Музыкантов вдохновила к прежде всего музыка Раннего Возрождения, в записи использованы григорианские песнопения и барочные элементы, а также аутентичные музыкальные инструменты — колёсная лира («харди-гарди») и волынки.
Для оформления обложки альбома Брендан Перри использовал фрагмент картины-триптиха средневекового художника Иеронима Босха «Сад земных наслаждений».




Into the Labyrinth (1993) is the sixth album recorded by the Dead Can Dance duo Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry. It marked a strong shift from the previous albums, putting ethnic music influences at the forefront as would be the case in the later albums.
It was their first album completed on their own without the aid of guest musicians, and their first album to have a major label release in the U.S., thanks to a 4AD deal with Warner Bros. Records. It featured the alternative radio hit single "The Ubiquitous Mr Lovegrove".
Their reputation growing by leaps and bounds, including a huge underground following in the U.S., they were able to tour there even without one domestic release available, while at one point Dead Can Dance was the biggest selling band in 4AD's history, Perry and Gerrard once again did the business with Aion.
Its cover taken from Bosch, Aion's medievalism was worn more openly than ever before, with songs adapted from centuries-old material. The beautiful, entrancing "Saltarello," with lead performance by what sounds like an old wind instrument, comes from an Italian dance of the 14th century, while the mysterious moods of "The Song of the Sibyl" derive from 16th-century Catalonia.
The group's command of not merely recording possibilities, witness the exquisite layering of vocals on the opening "The Arrival and the Reunion", but of musical traditions, instruments, and more from around the world was arguably never stronger.
Gerrard's vocals in particular have an even stronger, richer feeling than before, not merely able to command with its power but softly calm and seduce. Perry, meanwhile, is no less compelling, his ever-strong, wonderful voice perfectly suited to his choice of material. The standout track is "Fortune Presents Gifts Not According to the Book" with lyrics from a Spanish poet.
The musical combination of softly plucked guitar and buried organ drone is striking enough, swathed in reverb, but when Perry steps in with his vocals, matched by more sparkling keyboards, the result is yet another high point for a band laden with them. Guest performers once again assist throughout, including Perry's brother Robert on haunting, quite non-cliched bagpipes for "As the Bell Rings the Maypole Spins" and singer David Navarro Sust, returning again to contribute some fine backing work.

Into the Labyrinth - шестой студийный альбом группы Dead Can Dance, выпущенный на британском лейбле 4AD в сентябре 1993 года. Первый альбом, записанный Джеррард и Перри без приглашённых сессионных музыкантов и первый альбом, выпущенный по договорённости с 4AD на лейбле-мейджоре - WEA.
Песни The Ubiquitous Mr Lovegrove и The Carnival Is Over были выпущены как радиосинглы (коммерческого выпуска на CD не было). Композиция Yulunga была выпущена на промо-сингле к фильму Baraka. На композиции The Carnival Is Over и Yulunga были сняты видеоклипы.
Название альбома Into the Labyrinth намекает на древнегреческий миф о Тесее, отправившегося в лабиринт, чтобы сразиться с Минотавром.




Toward the Within (1994) is the only official live album of Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard's group Dead Can Dance. It contains 15 songs, of which only four appeared on their previous albums, and two of which were later re-recorded and included on Lisa Gerrard's first solo album, The Mirror Pool.
The others previously existed only in live performances and unofficial bootlegs, but were not officially released until Toward the Within.
Along with Perry and Gerrard were a number of musicians who had performed with them on other occasions. Toward the Within was recorded in one take in November 1993 in the Mayfair Theatre in Santa Monica, California and was released by 4AD as an album and a video (VHS and Laserdisc) a year later.
It was the last major event to take place in the Mayfair Theatre before it was severely damaged in the earthquake in January 1994 and had to be closed indefinitely. The video was filmed by Mark Magidson and contains interviews with Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry, as well a music video for "Yulunga (Spirit Dance)", composed of clips from the film Baraka. While the CD functions as the soundtrack to the video, neither contain the entire show in itself. The CD lacks "Gloridean", as well as the song played over the ending credits of the video, and the video lacks "Persian Love Song" and concert footage of "Yulunga (Spirit Dance)".
In 2001, Toward the Within was re-released on DVD and included in the box-set Dead Can Dance (1981-1998). In addition to the original content, the DVD release contains a few extras: a discography, music videos for "Frontier", "The Protagonist", and "The Carnival Is Over", as well as a chapter from Baraka entitled "Calcutta Foragers/Homeless", which is set to Dead Can Dance's "The Host of Seraphim". In 2004, the DVD was released in a stand-alone package.

Toward the Within - единственный официальный концертный альбом группы Dead Can Dance, выпущенный на британском лейбле 4AD в октябре 1994 года в форматах CD, LP и VHS. Он состоит из 15 песен, из которых только четыре можно найти на предыдущих альбомах группы.
Запись была сделана в ноябре 1993 года в театре «Mayfair» в Санта-Монике, Калифорния была выпущена 4AD как альбом и видеофильм год спустя. Это было последнее крупное представление, произошедшее в театре до его разрушения землетрясением в январе 2004 года.
Фильм был снят Марком Мэгидсоном (англ. Mark Magidson) и содержит интервью с Лизой Джеррард и Бренданом Перри, а также видеоклип к песне «Yulunga (Spirit Dance)», состоящий из фрагментов фильма «Baraka».
Содержимое аудио- и видеоверсий несколько отличается: на CD пропущена песня «Gloridean», использованная в титрах к видеофильму, в нём же отсутствуют «Persian Love Song» и «Yulunga (Spirit Dance)».
В 2001 году «Toward the Within» был перевыпущен на DVD в составе бокс-сета «Dead Can Dance (1981—1998)». К первоначальному содержимому были добавлены дискография группы, видеоклипы «Frontier», «The Protagonist» и «The Carnival Is Over», а также отрывок из фильма режиссёра Рона Фрика «Барака», показывающий бездомных на помойках Калькутты, в сопровождении композиции «The Host of Seraphim». В 2004 DVD был выпущен также отдельно.




Spiritchaser (1996) was the last studio album by Dead Can Dance before Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard went their separate ways.
It expands on its exploration of world music and like Into the Labyrinth, Spiritchaser was recorded at Quivvy Church, Perry's personal studio in Ireland. The track "Indus" contains a melody that is very similar to the melody of "Within You Without You," a Beatles song that George Harrison composed with Indian musicians. Although not deliberate, Perry and Gerrard were asked to contact Harrison for his permission to use it; he granted it, but the record company insisted that they give him partial songwriting credit for it.

Spiritchaser - седьмой (и последний) студийный альбом группы Dead Can Dance, выпущенный на британском лейбле 4AD в июне 1996 года.
Альбом записан на домашней студии Брендана Перри «Quivy Church» в Ирландии. На создание этого альбома музыкантов вдохновила музыка народов Африки и Южной Америки.
На композицию «The Snake and The Moon» был выпущен единственный в дискографии Dead Can Dance коммерческий макси-сингл на CD.