Memento: The Very Best of Dead Can Dance

Dead Can Dance

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 2005)
• Original Release Date: October 25, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B000AYEIAY
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #98,718 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Dead Can Dance went down in acrimonious flames in 1998, but that didn't stop its founders, Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard, from getting together for a sold-out world tour in 2005. No new music has come out of the reunion yet, but in the meantime they've released a collection that encapsulates the wonder of this remarkable and influential group. Emerging on the 4AD label in the early 1980s, Dead Can Dance sounded like a gothic nun and troubadour lost in time. Gerrard was the impassioned locus, singing in a transcultural vocalise that tapped into the spirit of Middle Eastern, Bulgarian, and Gregorian styles. She chants a dark meditation on the 16th century hymn "Song of the Sibyl" and a wailing enraptured delirium on "Cantara," and brings the spirit of Hildegard von Bingen into an ecstatic tribal trance on "Yulunga." But Gerrard was only one side of DCD. In a Jim Morrison-meets-Sinatra croon, Brendan Perry intoned lyrics of portent and loss. Transglobal instruments, gothic ambience, and Perry's love of American folk merged in their music. Although there's nothing new here and no tracks appear from their first album, Memento serves as a nearly perfect introduction to an influential band that still draws a fervent audience. Apparently the dead still can dance. --John Diliberto

Product Description
Cofounded in Australia in the early '80s by Irish punk bassist/singer Brendan Perry and Australian vocalist Lisa Gerrard, Dead Can Dance transplanted to London in 1982 and quickly became globally renowned for their stylistically diverse and groundbreaking music as well as their incredible live shows. Fusing atmospheric, ambient pop, spiritual undertones, and alt-electronica with world beats and European folk-both contemporary and centuries old-their string of album masterpieces kicked off in 1984 with a self-titled debut. After disbanding in '99, Perry went solo and Gerrard became a prominent film composer, celebrated for her Golden Globe winning score for Gladiator, among other works. Their cult following thrives, and Rhino's new compilation coincides with the band's reunion, their first together in many years.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Beyond words., November 6, 2005

By	H3@+h (VT) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Honestly, this music is almost pointless to describe. It really needs to be heard, felt, and absorbed to blow your mind. But in words, it is a unique blend of folk, electronica, goth, and world music. In one word, I'd say it sounds ancient. This is actually their second collection. "A Passage In Time" is one track longer than this, however "Momento" includes tracks since, like the earthy "Yulunga". Existing fans might simply choose which disc has more of their favorite songs. New fans will love either. As with any "Best Of" I miss quite alot, but as a sampling of their work, "Momento" is wonderful.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Serves best as an introduction to the band, December 7, 2005

By	M. Price "exeter25" (Albany, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I consider myself extremely fortunate to have seen Dead Can Dance on their 2005 reunion tour, at their October date in New York City at Radio City Music Hall. They have been my #1 all-time favorite band for years, so it was an absolute thrill and easily ranks as the best concert experience of my life. But much like 'Memento', although the content was fantastic, there wasn't much new.

That's NOT a complaint, mind you. I realize that on a reunion tour not every band can come up with new stuff. In a live environment that's entirely understandable. For a 'best of' album though, a few great songs are noticeably missing (I think it'd be impossible to fit a true 'best of' DCD on one disc though), and they have already released a few compilations with much, if not all, of this material on them.

It serves as a great introduction to the band for those who haven't heard their fantastic music before, so if you're one of those people who have never heard them but have always heard OF them, this might be for you. For a long-time fan like myself though, this isn't a must-have or anything, because I already have all of the material on other releases.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars beautiful music, January 24, 2006

By	L. Wood (California) - See all my reviews

This is my new soundtrack for life. It's really beautiful & has lots of cool ethnic parts. I can listen to it over & over again.