Track Listing

1. Host Of Seraphim
2. Orbis De Ignis
3. Severance
4. Writing On My Father's Hand
5. In The Kingdom Of The Blind
6. Chant Of The Paladin
7. Song Of Sophia
8. Echolalia
9. Mother Tongue
10. Ulysses

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #28239 in Music
• Released on: 1993-12-31
• Number of discs: 1

CD Description
The fourth Dead Can Dance album, THE SERPENT'S EGG, continues the band's evolution away from tradition rock/pop song structures. The tracks are instead built on sustained chords, vocal harmonizing, and brittle-sounding string instruments. "Orbis de Ignis" is almost a cappella, the only music being a bell struck between verses, with the ethereal voice of Lisa Gerrard (and others) skittering over the surface. Along with the insistent tribal drumming of "Mother Tongue", which eventually evolves into a wordless chant by Lisa Gerrard, thebest tracks here are two featuring Brendan Perry's vocals, "Severance" and "Ullyses". The first opens on an ominous drone as the song's narrative tells of a fading community (or civilization, even). The second features some of Perry's mostinteresting work with the hurdy-gurdy, which is echoed by astring section. Also of note is the creepy vocal interplay in "Echolalia". For fans of This Mortal Coil, "Song of Sophia" distinctly recalls that band's "Song to the Siren". This is maybe not the best Dead Can Dance record to begin with--it is certainly the group's most insular--but for fans it is another fascinating trip to the dawn of Western music.

Customer Reviews

fantastic
Looking back on it, Dead Can Dance were a remarkably consistant outfit. "Host of Seraphim" follows right off where "Persephone: the gathering of flowers" (finalé from their previous album) finished. There's no denying its one of the bands finest moments. Elsewhere there's medieval polyphony, the delightfuly Celtic-tinged "Writing on my fathers hand", and Brendon Perrys excellent Ulysses. Its amazing to think that this was recorded in the mid 1980's, is so completely removed from the style of that period. Then again, this music doesn't seem to belong to any set timespan. Oh, & great cover art. If you liked this try "Within the Real of a Dying Sun" & "Aion", also by Dead Can Dance.

Information on the SACD release
This is a special, limited de-luxe edition. It is a STEREO, HYBRID SACD - in other words, it is not a multi-channel release but it CAN be played on a regular CD player and does NOT require special SACD hardware. The album has been re-mastered by Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab in the USA and these pressings are packaged in Japanese, mini-vinyl replicas of the original sleeves, including replicas of any inner sleeves, plus an additional booklet with lyrics.

The Best DCD Album. Magnificent.
This genre is depressingly sparse. Yet, DCD manage to get it exactly right. The first couple of tracks on this album are perfect. Per-fect. Masterful. Ultimate, majestic. Brilliant. The rest are great, but the first couple are fantastic. Nothing else I have found in this genre (yet) matches them. Suggestions welcome.
Highest praise also for Within the Realm of a Dying Sun, esp Persephone.