Dead Can Dance Launch World Tour

After 16 years, Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry are reuniting as Dead Can Dance, the surreal medieval-Goth duo from the 80′s and 90′s that only the really cool Goth kids knew about.

Today marks the beginning of their 2012 world tour, and I have to admit, it’s a little exciting.

If you’re a fan of old bands like the Cocteau Twins or This Mortal Coil, you already know about mouth music, a singing style that replaces words with the idea of words and the formation of interesting vocal sounds.  Lisa Gerrard also sings in this style, which can be alienating to some and intriguing to others.  But the beautiful thing about Dead Can Dance is that Perry also sings, and in English, which makes their music a little more accessible to a mainstream audience (and gives their albums a sense of variety).

But Lisa Gerrard may be more well-known for her contribution to the Gladiator soundtrack with the track “Now We Are Free,” which plays during the closing moments and credits of the film.

Maximus, sauntering through the wheat fields.

In fact, the Gladiator song is a prime example of mouth music, as you’ll struggle to discover the language she’s singing in.  Apparently, on this particular track, Gerrard used a language she devised as a child.  It seems like a growing trend, as new/spiritual artists like the beautiful Chinese pop/electro diva Sa Ding Ding also sing in languages of their own making.

It’s interesting that these singers choose to make their own language rather than using one that others can understand- almost as if it doesn’t matter what’s being said, but how you feel listening to it.  You certainly can’t do that with other forms of art… like writing, for example.  “Oh yes, my novel is a masterpiece.  I mean, when you read it aloud it sounds very interesting.”  o_O

Gerrard and Perry, in their prime.

Lisa’s had a pretty good solo career, actually putting out a new album The Black Opal last year, which seems strangely more accessible than her previous releases like The Mirror Pool, which features excessive back-of-the-throat vamping.  She also sings a few songs in English on this release, which is rather strange to hear.  It’s a bit like watching a talkie Charlie Chaplin film: something just isn’t quite right, but it’s still Charlie Chaplin, and that makes it enjoyable.

The first single from Dead Can Dance’s new album Anastasis is a song called “Amnesia” which features Perry, whose voice, dare I say, has actually aged better than even Peter Gabriel’s.  Granted, he doesn’t put as much “oomph” in his voice, either.  I couldn’t hear him singing San Jacinto, for example.

Expect great things from this new, albeit short, 8-track album, but also more of the same thing they’ve been doing for years.  Gerrard and Perry aren’t necessarily looking to be #1 on the charts with this reunion/tour.  But it’s nice to see artists making music for its own sake, and touring to satisfy their long-time fans, as well as infuse themselves with a new energy.

Anastasis drops on August 14th, and the tour is going on now.  So, what are you waiting for?  Go see them if they come to town.  You’ll (probably) never get a chance to see them together again.