Track Listing

1. Anywhere Out Of The World
2. Windfall
3. In The Wake Of Adversity
4. Xavier
5. Dawn Of The Iconoclast
6. Cantara
7. Summoning Up The Muse
8. Persphone (The Gathering Of Flowers)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #95954 in Music
• Released on: 1993-12-31
• Number of discs: 1

From Amazon.com
Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry actually manage to out-shimmer the Cocteau Twins on this 1987 release, which finds their beautiful minimalism adorned with increasingly developed compositional genius. The cascading melodies that grace "Summoning of the Muse" and "Persephone" are tailor-made for that next Christmas or Winter Solstice celebration, while more conventional (albeit somewhat somber) pop tracks like "Xavier" and "Anywhere Out of the World" keep the going from getting too arcane. All in all, more fun than a barrel of goths. --Billy Grenier

CD Description
WITHIN THE REALM OF A DYING SUN sees Dead Can Dance utilising both string and brass instruments more than they had previously, which gives the music an organic feel. Though some synthesized effects are still present, the floating, etherealeffect that the tracks inspire is based almost entirely on the cavernous echoes that DCD incorporates into its music and on the vocals of Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard, who singsfour songs to Perry's three (the other is a short instrumental).
On "Xavier", Perry's voice rises and falls amid a forest of strings, augmented by an occasional, distant trumpet. "Dawn of the Iconoclast" opens with a series of triumphalblasts and spare drum rolls, and soon settles into a sustained chord over which Lisa Gerrard's voice (tracked at least three times) weaves back and forth, before eventually endingon a swelling synthesized note. "Cantara" is arguably the best track here--built over a repeated hurdy-gurdy riff, at nearly the two-minute mark it introduces a percussive rhythm over which Gerrard intones what seem to be nonsense syllables--the whole thing comes out suggesting a village dance fromthe time of King Arthur and company.

Customer Reviews

This is where the Journey Begins
I love Dead Can Dance they are one of the best musical groups of the 80's and 90's. For me this is where there style began. Their first two albums had hints of what would come but from Within the Realm of a Dying Sun to Aion is a complete work that can be listened to from beginning to end. This is a must listen to for any musician wanting to learn how to create feeling, depth and sound out of limited instruments. This band created a sound, a language that feels ancient and primal and yet moves the listener not via dance or trite lyrics but with resonance to that part of our soul that responds to music.

Brought me to my knees
This is one of of the most awesome albums ever made.Ive lost count as to how many times ive listened to it, but if you want to feel the true power of music, then get this album. When I first heard it, it had a profound effect on me, no other group has touched me like Dead can Dance, and all thier albums are stunning (althought to be honest i think the cracks were showing with spiritchaser) this one has been produced like its made out of solid stone towers sound, creating music thats deeply resonating with humaness,enigmatic and powerful.No one else can touch it.

fantastic
This CD starts with brooding, orchestral gothic tones that really really grow on you after a few listens. This, however, only sets you up to be absolutely blown away by the final 3 tracks.. which just soar onward and up into something the likes of which I have never heard before. Words cannot describe something that makes your hair stand on end, but suffice to say that this music, although darkly pagan, is not the typical gothic "wallowing in self pity", it is tremendously empowering, defiant and above all truely beautiful. I feel I could stare down the sun after listening to this.