The extraordinary and uncategorizable Dead Can Dance began in Melbourne (Australia) in 1981 when Brendan Perry (Marching Girls) on vocals and guitars, Paul Erikson on bass guitar, Lisa Gerrard (ex-Microfilm) on vocals, and Simon Monroe (Marching Girls) on drums, got together to form one of the most important
and influential groups of the 1980s. A year later, Brendan Perry, Paul Erikson, and Lisa Gerrard moved to London to expand their international careers.
Dead Can Dance released over nine albums between 1984 and 1995 creating a timeless mix of world music influences, medieval chants, folk ballads, baroque styling, Celtic flavors and electronics. The group disbanded in 1998.
After Dead Can Dance, Lisa Gerrard expanded her artistic vision, collaborating with famed composers such as Patrick Cassidy and Pieter Bourke, as well as releasing a number of solo albums, including The Silver Tree. Additionally, Gerrard has scored or contributed to several films including Gladiator, Heat, Mission Impossible 2, Layer Cake, Insider, Nadro, Ali, Whale Rider, Black Hawk Down, Tears of The Sun, Constantine and El Niño de la Luna.
Brendan Perry released his solo album Eye of the Hunter, on 4AD Records in 1999, which was very similar to his work in dead Can Dance. His next solo album, Ark, came out in 2010. Brendan played every instrument and wrote all the lyrics. All of the instrumentation on Ark was derived from samples and synthesizers.
Dead Can Dance reunited briefly in 2005 for a tour.
Discography:
Dead Can Dance (4AD Records, 1984)
Spleen and Ideal (4AD Records, 1986)
Within the Realm of a Dying Sun (4AD Records, 1987)
The Serpent’s Egg (4AD Records, 1988)
Aion (4AD Records, 1990)
A Passage in Time, compilation (Rykodisc Records, 1991)
Into the Labyrinth (4AD Records, 1993)
Toward the Within, live (4AD Records, 1994)
Spiritchaser (4AD Records, 1996)
Dead Can Dance – 1981-1998, boxed set (4AD Records, 2001)
Wake – The Best of Dead Can Dance (4AD Records, 2003)
Memento – The Very Best of Dead Can Dance (Rhino, 2005)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.
