Dead
Can Dance: Memento (4AD/Rhino)
After the releases of A Passage of Time and the 1981-1998 box-set,
Memento marks the third time that Dead Can Dance have had a greatest
hits collection. That’s nothing new in these days of double-dipping
artists until you can’t stand to hear them anymore; just look at
how many hits compilations Hall & Oates have. While not belting out
Philly soul, Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry can’t be accused of
being soulless. Their blend of world musical styles and varied cultural
dialects convey the image of walking into a candlelit temple of the mind.
Lisa Gerrard’s voice has been a mainstay in Hollywood cinema for
the past few years, most notably in Ridley Scott’s Gladiator,
but her work in Dead Can Dance is transcendent and in certain ways, unparalleled.
Witnessing such grandiose sounds release from her person—along with
the savory vocal and instrumental contribution from Perry—is very
much like a religious experience. Ask those who just attended their recent
tour and they’ll most likely tell you the same. This disc is a by-the-numbers,
single-disc gathering of their best moments that is a great souvenir of
their recent tour and a fantastic representation of a sound that helped
define the esteemed 4AD label.
This disc is a great way to start an appreciation for the band, but even
better is the box set that is still in print and features their fantastic
concert film Toward the Within on DVD along with several discs
that provide a broader view of their particular kind of greatness. Light
some candles, burn some incense, and put on the CD for some instant ethereal
ambience.
8 Blips out of 10 By Nick Hyman