Duality

Pieter Bourke, Lisa Gerrard | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 14, 1998)
• Original Release Date: April 14, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: 4ad / Wea
• ASIN: B0000062VG
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,427 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #20 in Music > Alternative Rock > British Alternative > General

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Utterly enchanting, November 21, 2000

By 

Cabir Marc Davis (Amazon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Duality (Audio CD)

How this composition has failed to make it big in the US is beyond me. While composers like Loreena and Enya sell by the truckful, true musicians like Lisa Gerrard are hardly heard of at all. Lisa was once part of Dead Can Dance, a group that had dozens of unforgettable albums before disbanding.

'Duality' opens wonderfully, with what I would call second to only the opening witnessed on 'The Mystic's Dream' by Loreena. The track in question is 'Shadow Magnet' a rather long but ultimately fruitful song that stays with you long after you've listened to it. So is 'Tempest' - a soaring, absolutely enthralling track, made only more beautiful by Lisa's stunning vocals.

For all those who buy 'Duality' and expect to find lyrics to the songs, don't bother looking. The beauty of Lisa's work, both here and in her previous 'The Mirror Pool', is that she chooses to sing in languages not easily accessible (such as primitive Polynesian) and most often gives that up in favor of phonetic chanting. This is especially enchanting as Lisa shows us that music is indeed wordless, and can remain so even when a vocal is in full effect. I cant think of a single musician who could manage to pull this off through the course of an entire album.

Make Lisa's 'Duality' a priority on your next music list. Chances are, you wont at all be disappointed. If you liked Loreena, you'll love Gerrard's work, which is at once more experimental, and definitely more accomplished. While Lisa will perhaps never become a household name, works such as 'Duality' deserve more recognition. Any contemporary New Age performer's works pale in the face of this remarkable recording. I listened to this album, and then played most of Enya's works just to see what the most striking difference was, and it turned out that Lisa scored higher on every level : musically, vocally, and technically. The production value on this CD is flawless, and certainly worth referring to.

All in all, a splendid album, and the only thing in the last few years that has really caught my attention (I'm rather picky). I can't recommend this enough.

Ten stars, if possible.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hauntingly beautiful, soothingly mystical, fulfillingly Eastern sound, January 14, 2006

By 

Avalon Daughter (I wish I was in Glastonbury) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Duality (Audio CD)

I was never a fan of 'Dead can Dance' only because I'd never heard them. But a friend of mine saw that I liked Caroline Lavelle and said: "I think you'll like this album." Let me just say, I've never put this album away and had to replace it twice (once was worn and broken, once a boyfriend stole my copy.) I think I have yet to find someone I know who will listen to it and it doesn't move them somewhat.

This album is incredibly atmospheric. It's one of those beautiful and lovely CDs that you can put on at night in the summer with the windows open and light lots of candles -- actually it's what we did and just had a bottle of wine talking with this in the background thoroughly enjoying the music of Duality.

It is a combination of Eastern, tribal and classical music in my opinion. Specific songs in particular to really revel in would be: Shadow Magnet, Forest Veil, the Human Game, and the Unfolding is very VERY moving if you listen at a louder volume.

I adore this album and have yet to find another like it. For those of you who are Dead Can Dance fans, I don't know what to tell you but I like her solo work. For those out there who are Loreena, Enya or Caroline Lavelle fans, check out Lisa Gerrard and enjoy. This music is good for atmosphere, meditation and something different. Highly recommended.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!, November 28, 2000

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Duality (Audio CD)

After wearing Gladiator out (i just left it on repeat for about 4 months) I wanted something to follow it up with. As I already had lots of Hans Zimmer CDs, I decided to check out Lisa Gerrard. Duality is very diffrent from what i usually listen to, but i decided to take a risk... let me tell you. it was WELL WORTH IT! Lisa's vocals are just as vibrant as in Gladiator, and although i've never listened to "Dead Can Dance", i will certainly check it out now! I advise anyone with a real appreciation for music to buy this CD!