[An Ideal Spleen] -- Dead Can Dance was an eclectic musical outfit that originated in Australia. The lineup varied over the years, but the duo of Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard always remained the core of the band. Their band combined multiple musical elements – European folk music (Middle Ages and Renaissance), ambient pop, world music, Gregorian chant, etc. – and wrapped it all with a darkwave flourish.
Forty years ago this week, Dead Can Dance released the album that would cement their cult following, particularly in Europe: Spleen and Ideal.
Spleen and Ideal was Dead Can Dance's sophomore release. It peaked at #2 on the UK indie charts, but it took nine years before the album received a release in the US, where it failed to chart. I did get to hear Spleen and Ideal in the mid-1980s because I knew someone with an imported copy. Now, there were no singles released from this album. But that is just as well; the best way to experience a full length album from Dead Can Dance is to listen to it from start to finish. Listening to Spleen and Ideal in its entirety calls to mind what it must be to hear a soul's transmission from the physical plane to more ethereal realms. Gerrard sounding very much like the aforementioned soul in transition while Perry's vocals come across as intonations from holy writ.
According to AllMusic critic Ned Raggett, "Calling [Spleen and Ideal] 'haunting' and 'atmospheric' barely scratches even the initial surface of the album's power." do yourself a favor and sit with this album. Those 40 minutes will refresh you during the bombast of this weekend.
Flashback: Spleen and Ideal (November 25, 1985)
And that's all till next week. Dedicated 80s-philes can find more flashbacks in the Prophet or Madman archives or via Bookended's 80s Flashback tag. As always, your comments are welcome on today's, or any other, flashback post. And if you like what I'm doing here, please share the link with your friends. If, however, you don't like the flashback, feel free to share it with your enemies.
See you in seven!
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