Product Description

The music of Dead Can Dance has long been a favourite of the "Goth" crowd; however, AION is really the first one of theband's records that can actually be called Gothic in the classic, renaissance sense. Arguably Dead Can Dance's most successful record, it contains the band's most consistent set of songs since SPLEEN AND IDEAL. Widening their view to encompass more of the ancient world than with earlier records, Dead Can Dance explore styles from Northern Europe ("The Song of the Sibyl") to the Middle East ("Radharc"), with stops along the way at a number of other surprising locations.
The fact that it is based on a 16th-century Catalan chant notwithstanding, portions of "The Song of the Sibyl" are eerily reminiscent of the experimental side of David Bowie's LOW. Standouts include "Saltarello", which was adapted from a 14th-century Italian dance and played on bagpipes, drums, and tambourine; "Fortune Presents Gifts Not According to the Book", where even Brendan Perry's English-language vocals sound ancient; and "Wilderness", an a cappella song with a multi-tracked vocal by Lisa Gerrard. AION makes for great late-nightlistening, though it is the kind of music that is barbed enough to demand your attention.

Track Listing

1. Arrival And The Reunion
2. Mephisto
3. Fortune Presents Gifts Not According
4. End Of Words
5. Wilderness
6. Garden Of Zephirus
7. Saltarello
8. Song Of Sibyl
9. As The Bell Rings The Maypole Sign
10. Black Sun
11. Promised Womb
12. Radharc

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #49477 in Music
• Released on: 1999-11-01
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
Long before No Doubt brought back ska and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy resurrected swing, Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry were making music that recalled an earlier time. How early? Try the Renaissance. Everything old--really old--is new again on Aion, the band's fifth and arguably finest album. Like DCD's other discs, Aion revolves around the interplay between Gerrard's soaring glossolalia and Perry's baritone crooning. A range of styles are explored, from the polyphonic choral heights of "The Arrival and the Reunion" to the smooth balladry of "Fortune Presents Gifts Not According to the Book" to the Middle Eastern sensuality of "Radharc". Other standout tracks include the playful "Saltarello", a traditional 14th-century instrumental dance piece, and "As the Bell Rings the Maypole Spins", a strikingly melodic song carried by bagpipes and Gerrard's angelic voice. --Steve Landau

Customer Reviews

At least it was short
Well I kept coming across people saying how good DCD were and always on the lookout for something new to listen too, I looked through the available releases and as this one seem to fit the bill as a good starting point. It has a few interesting moments, but to be honest I was thankful it was just over 30 minutes long as several times I wanted just to switch it off. Perhaps DCD are just not my thing, or perhaps I should have tried something other than Aion.

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.

I Need some information
I am trying to locate an album of Lisa Gerrards that has the song sorrow on it. I know it is on Gladiater Soundtrack, but its only 1min 30secs long and i wanted the longer version