Aion

Dead Can Dance | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 18, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: 4ad Records
• ASIN: B001FZ0A7M
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,554 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #94 in Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi > Dream Pop

Track Listings

1. The Arrival And The Reunion

2. Saltarello

3. Mephisto

4. The Song Of Sibyl

5. Fortune Presents Gifts Not According To The Book

6. As The Bell Rings The Maypole Spins

7. The End Of Words

8. Black Sun

9. Wilderness

10. The Promised Womb

11. The Garden Of Zephirus

12. Radharc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the crossroads of DCD's career, December 20, 2000

By 

"emeraldavatar" (Jersey City, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aion (Audio CD)

This is the best DCD album I have heard, which makes it one of the most beautiful bits of music ever. By now a lot of people know about Lisa Gerrard's beautiful voice and Middle Eastern-influenced dance beats, and those are displayed very nicely here. Radharc is one of the best examples of the latter. But Aion is dominated slightly more by the neo-classical and Renaissance vibe - Saltarello, the second track on the album, is far and away the best "pure" (no drum machines or samples) Medieval dance track you will ever hear. I play this track often to techno and trance junkies, and usually they are simply stunned. Aion also features some of Brendan Perry's trademark dark, droning vocals that will have Nick Cave and Peter Murphy fans weeping with delight - Black Sun is the standout. A great album to start your DCD collection with, especially if you've just heard about the band and don't quite know the material yet. (Note - their first albums are mostly slow and dark, like Black Sun. Their later work is more dancy and "exotic", typically more like Radharc. Lisa Gerrard's solo work is pretty much all like that.)

41 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's true! The dead CAN dance!, December 25, 2002

By 

Clarissa "MoonGoddess" (Ontario, California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Aion (Audio CD)

'Aion' was my introduction to Dead Can Dance (DCD) and it has truly made a fan of me! The choral explosion on "Arrival and the Reunion" [pulled] me in fast as it reminded me a lot of neo-goth group, Mors Syphilitica. Then comes a 14th-century instrumental piece called "Saltarello", which has a great Renaissance dance beat that's really quite irresistible when it comes to swaying in your stilled position! The music slows down a bit once "Song of the Sibyl" comes on though as it features very little background noise. Instead it focuses solely on the chilling vocals of Lisa Gerrard's shaky yet affective vibrato. One of the best Dead Can Dance songs with Lisa singing on vocals however would have to be "As The Bell Rings the Maypole Spins", which features some incredible bagpipe playing!

I love both of the duo's voices so I really appreciate the fact that they trade-off after "Song Of The Sibyl" from Lisa to Brendan Perry, whom sings on the subtle Medieval tune, "Fortune Presents Gifts Not According to the Book". It's on the haunting "Black Sun", which brings to mind the dark brilliance of 'Within The Realm of a Dying Sun', that his somber baritone truly succeeds in tantilizing the listener with his seductive vocals though! And while the eastern influenced "Radharc" may arguably be the best song on 'Aion', the entire album is a delightful treat for the senses and I couldn't recommend it any higher!

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Etheral, June 26, 2000

By 

Christopher R. Cicatelli "cicatelli" (bethesda, md) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aion (Audio CD)

I happened to stumble across this AION due to my experience with Cocteau Twins, which are on the very same label as Dead Can Dance..."4AD". I read reviews for <Aion> and other Dead Can Dance releases. <Aion> sounded like the one I would enjoy the most, and well, I was right.

This CD is simply amazing. Flavors of medieval times swirl....sweeping hills and valleys....majestic cathedrals and castles...villages gathering, creating a festival like atmosphere...flames dance atop their torches as stars sparkle in the night sky above.

The beauty of this album starts with the cover. A mysterious and enchanting doorway....once you go through, a new world appears. This music is beautifully written, and wonderfully produced, and is unlike any musical experience you've ever had. Soaring vocals...gothic drums echo throughout...14th century strings to accompany. T'is a feast for your musical soul, and if you listen closely enough, you just might hear yourself.