Dead Can Dance - Dionysus

[purlieu]

Gorgeous new album by Dead Can Dance out today. I'm a big fan of most of their albums, but was somewhat underwhelmed by their reunion album the other year, Anastasis. This one feels a lot more expansive (despite being much shorter), probably helped by being effectively two side-long tracks. Might be their most overtly 'ethnic' sounding record to date, and probably their most instrumental-focused too.

Single here.

[jamiefairlie]

Interesting, will certainly give it a listen. Not too keen on the single though, as you say very heavy on the tribal vibe which isn't really my sort of thing. For me, their heyday was the 'medieval' trilogy - Spleen and Ideal (1985), Within the Realm of a Dying Sun (1987) and The Serpent's Egg (1988). I thought they were the best band in the world at that time.

[purlieu]

The tribal / ethnic stuff I find hit or miss. I wasn't a fan of Into the Labyrinth so much, as a lot of it was synthesised, which I also felt about Anastasis. This one feels a lot more acoustic, and there's heavy use of field recordings and such that add to the really organic nature of the music. In places it feels like they've left western music behind entirely.

I'm with you in your favourites, though. Those three and Aion are their pinnacle for me.

[hedgehog90]

I had no idea bout this until now.
Will give it a spin later, really looking forward to it!