Wake-Best of

Dead Can Dance | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 20, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: 4ad / Ada
• ASIN: B00007KN3A
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,539 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #36 in Music > Alternative Rock > British Alternative > General
  • #74 in Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi > Dream Pop

Editorial Reviews

Double CD condensed compilation of highlights chosen by Brendan Perry from the out of print limited edition box set released by 4AD in 2001. It spans the band's entire career (eight critically acclaimed and highly individual albums over 17 years with 4AD). Since the band's split in 1998, both Lisa Gerrard and Brendan have continued making music. "...a breathtaking fusion of ancient and modern sounds, the results of which often transcend the stylistic entrapments of a specific culture for something larger" - CMJ.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 43 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Music of Its Kind! November 8, 2005

By Anthony Morelli

Format:Audio CD

Saw them on October 4, 2005 (My Birthday) and I was totally blown away. Upon leaving the venue, I made up my mind to purchase "WAKE" as well as "Into the Labyrinth". Both were on my shopping list and I purchased both and don't regret a minute of it! My favorite songs on this collection are: YULUNGA, HOW FORTUNATE THE MAN WITH NONE, THE CARNIVAL IS OVER, RAKIM, SANVEAN, I CAN SEE NOW, AMERICAN DREAMING, THE HOST OF SERAPHIM, and CANTARA. Disc 2 features the more "known & loved" songs. On the contrary, Disc 1 features songs which I only know 3/4 of. For those who aren't aware of this remarkable duo & their equally remarkable band...you MUST buy "WAKE". It's definitely worth owning because of the quality of sound & the selection of tracks. Every track will move you, mind, body & soul.

Lisa Gerrard & Brendan Perry are 2 of the finest vocalists & musicians to walk to earth. When I saw them live for the first time, I was awestruck by Lisa's remarkable, versatile & creamy voice, as well as Brendan's calm, smooth vocals. When I closed my eyes during the songs at the concert, I was at peace. Sometimes you have to listen to the music at live concerts with your eyes closed, to get the full effect. What I discovered is the phenomenal similarity between their Studio recodings and their live music. There's virtually no difference between the both...that's how cleverly this band has mastered their craft. And that's why they've managed to earn such grand appreciation & countless fans. This compilation marked the end of DCD as a duo in 2003. Fortunately, they're back & even better than before....

Disc 1 Tracklist:
01- Frontier (Demo) - 3:00
02- Anywhere Out of the World - 5:07
03- Enigma of the Absolute - 4:14
04- Carnival of Light - 3:30
05- In Power We Entrust the Love Advocated - 4:10
06- Summoning of the Muse - 4:57
07- Windfall - 3:31
08- In the Kingdom of the Blind, the One-Eyed are Kings - 4:10
09- The Host of Seraphim - 6:17
10- Bird - 5:00
11- Cantara - 5:58
12- Severance - 3:21
13- Saltarello - 2:36
14- Black Sun - 4:56

Disc 2 Tracklist:
01- Yulunga (Spirit Dance) - 6:57
02- The Carnival is Over - 5:42
03- The Lotus Eaters - 6:42
04- Rakim - 5:38
05- The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove - 6:14
06- Sanvean - 3:46
07- Song of the Nile - 8:00
08- The Spider's Stratagem - 6:41
09- I Can See Now - 2:56
10- American Dreaming - 4:30
11- Nierika - 5:45
12- How Fortunate the Man with None - 9:09

The only complaints I have are extremely minor. First, the liner notes booklet seems to be slightly off (alignment-wise). I think it was intentional, yet it looks quickly put together. Secondly, "THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY" is missing in the tracklist. That 1 song is so poetic and haunting, sung by Lisa Gerrard. It's definitely worth a lend of your ear, given you've not heard it yet. With that out of the way, I'd like to talk about the discs themselves. Disc 1 is painted a matte, metallic Coppery-Bronze, and Disc 2 is a lovely matte, Blue. Regarding the packaging, everything is housed in a 2CD jewel case, which opens like a regular case, but the inner tray opens from left to right, rather than right to left. This is just to clear up any difficulties anyone may have, upon trying to open the fragile CD tray. The booklet has a lovely 7-page bio of the duo & band + on the last 2 pages, the tracks are listed chronologically, as they were released. It gives you an idea of what album you may want to buy next.

(...) Read more ›

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Dead Can Dance September 21, 2003

By A Customer

Format:Audio CD

I have been listening to Dead Can Dance since I was twelve years old, I am now twenty- five. Dead Can Dance has been, for the past thirteen years, my favorite band. They do not fall under any particular genre of music. They are not "dark wave", world music, new age, or gothic. I bought this album here in Germany for fifteen euro (twenty dollars) not realizing it was an import to United States. I thought it was an import to Germany =). Although this album is worth five stars (I am partial- see above) the best album by DCD is A Passage In Time. Its a greatest hits album with two never before released titles.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Lisa Gerrard has the voice of an angel January 15, 2007

By A. Hawk

Format:Audio CD

I've been a fan of DCD since I was in high school and I'm now in my early thirties. I absolutely love this album, Lisa Gerrard has such an amazing voice that I am often moved to tears at the beauty of the songs on this album. Although each song is a gem, my favorites are "Host of the Seraphim", "The Carnival is Over", "Summoning the Muse" and "Song of the Nile". This is an excellent cd for someone who is new to Dead Can Dance or an old fan like myself.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! March 30, 2010

By A. Richins

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I bought this album after seeing a few DCD videos on youtube, and I was totally blown away! I can't believe I had never even heard of this band, and was missing out in this music all these years. I bought the this album 3 months ago and have been listening to it almost every day since. The songs never get old.

They are just so completely different from anything that's being put out today. I personally don't think there's a better vocalist out there today than Lisa Gerrard, and Lisa and Brendan's work together is genius.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Desert island DCD May 2, 2007

By Tunnelpet

Format:Audio CD

This is a really great "desert island" Dead Can Dance CD that has great bits from all their phases. In fact two years ago I was studying abroad in Germany and heard they were on tour...I caught their show in England. Lucky me. But..I have had most of their work on vinyl and I had lost a few (if you can believe that..life is crazy and sad sometimes)so I needed a good comp to listen to for a refresher crash course in DCD. This fit the bill and I went nuts over it. Only one number from "Spleen and Ideal" and nothing from their first album. Now I have the awesome box set and my dumb friend lost my "Wake" but I still may buy "Wake" again even though I will have everything on it. It's just a great handy dandy overview of their career until this supposed "break-up" phase which I don't buy for a second is over. Addicting. Beautiful. Stunning. Inspiring. Cool.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Mood Music 101 November 5, 2009

By gamefkdup

Format:Audio CD

How I love this cd! This isn't the type of music to get you hype, you wouldn't bring this to a party but more likely to bed. This is my sleeping cd but it is also good for reading, relaxing & just flat out drifting away! Forgetting about everything that has or will happen be it past and/or present. My favorite song is by far The Host Of Seraphim but I love alot of their music. How Fortunate The Man With None would have to be a solid #2 and after that I would say The Summoning Of The Muse, Sanvean perhaps; very powerful, intense songs. Dead Can Dance's music is like nothing I have heard before, it is just so spiritual... I first came upon Dead Can Dance while watching Stephen King's The Mist, The Host Of Seraphim played as the end score. I was truly astounded by the Godly angelic voice of Lisa Gerrard & the whole song just blew my mind away! Yet still, me being a fan of Hip-Hop, I ignored this new musical request. Months later, I heard The Carnival Is Over while watching S.Darko. The movie sucked but the soundtrack more than made up for it. Finally I was hooked on DCD, a harmless drug, but a good one. Though being a new fan to DCD, I feel as though they covered the classics with this compilation. All their greatest songs are on here which is great for new listeners who are not die-hard fans. I find it a shame how they can be everywhere (The Mist, Gladiator, Baraka) and still so unknown to the public.

I recommend this to any fan of music looking for something different. The variety of instruments is magical. This is a great homage to their legacy and well worth the buy if you're not interested in buying every last one of their cds, although I am thinking about it.