Dead Can Dance's Into the Labyrinth

The mysterious voice of "Dead Can Dance" is Lisa Gerrard, the same voice heard in the motion picture "Gladiator" and "Whale Rider".

Her first album is simply titled "This Mortal Coil," produced in 1983 and available in the USA on LP in 1984. It's a compilation of artists on the 4AD record label.

Shortly after that release, she became part of "Dead Can Dance, " supplying her magic on the following LP's.

1984. "Dead Can Dance" 4AD 
1985 "Spleen and Ideal" 4AD
1987 "Within the Realm of a Dying Sun" 4AD
1988 "Serpent's Egg" 4AD
1999 "Aion" 4AD
1993 "Into the Labyrinth" 4AD
1994 "Toward the Within" [live] 4AD
1996 "Spiritchaser" 4AD

Lisa's success caused her to go out on here own but rumors are the group will get back together, including a USA and European tour this year. I saw them live about 1989 and was overwhelmed by their talent and musical performance.

The 1984 release of "This Mortal Coil", is worth looking for, here is the track line up for that album, the artists and the length of play.

1 "Kanga-Roo," Chilton (3:30)
2 "Song to the Siren," Beckett, Buckley (3:30)
3 "Holocaust," Chilton (3:38)
4 "Fyt," Fryer, Watts-Russell (4:23)
5 "Fond Affections," Rema, Rema (3:50)
6 "The Last Ray." Guthrie, Raymonde (4:08) 
7 "Another Day," Harper (2:54) 
8 "Waves Become Wings," Gerrard (4:25)
9 "Barramundi," Raymonde (3:56)
10 "Dreams Made Flesh." Gerrard (3:48)
11 "Not Me," Newman (3:44)
12 "A Single Wish." Raymonde, Sharp, Young (2:26)

As you can see, Lisa is responsible for only track 8 and contributions to other cuts, with fellow 4AD artists.

If you like this type of sound, these other artist have struggled along, making magic and mystical music like LIsa but failed to catch as much attention as "Dead Can Dance", which if you consider Lisa's recent motion picture music success as 'arriving', it took 20 years for much of the general public to know who she was.

Here are but a few of the other 4AD artists:
MODERN ENGLISH *
BAUHAUS
DIF JUZ *
IN CAMERA
COCTEAU TWINS *
COLOURBOX
XMAL DEUTSCHLAND *
CLAN OF XYMOX *
RICHENEL *
THROWING MUSES
XYMOX *
PIXIES
LUSH
PALE SAINTS
SPIREA X
RED HOUSE PAINTERS

I have all the starred (*) titles on LP and in general, the recordings are absolutely superb. Nice to see a thread about music.

Wow Albert, very nice suggestions. Looks like I have to upgrade my Dead can dance collection. I noticed Lisa's voice in Whalerider but did not know the connection to Dead can dance. Thanks for the post Warren. I had complete forgotten about this CD, not listened to it in two years and your post got me to pick it up again.

Rene

Albert, and the rest: A big thank you. I'm going to check out a couple more of DCD's cds. I knew my rig had a deep soundstage, but playing Into the Labyrinth? It was ridiculous. Beautifully recorded. Only 2,maybe 3 tracks that didn't rock me. I'm not a big fan of synthesized music, but Into the Labyrinth was warm and toasty. thanks again. peace, warren

I had it since it came out in "93"
Great recording and demo disc.
I like "Tell Me More About The Forest" & "How Fortunate The Man With None"
Brendan's vocals are awsome, try listening at night with the *lights out* !!

I have "Into The Labyrinth", "In the Realm..." and "Toward The Within" on LD.

Lisa Gerrard's voice can shove easily all Grammy contenders at once.