Dead Can Dance – The Serpent's Egg

Dead Can Dance – The Serpent's Egg

Dead Can Dance – The Serpent's Egg is a haunting and atmospheric album that captures the Australian-British duo at one of their most mysterious and experimental. Originally released in 1988, the record marked an important stage in the development of Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard's distinctive fusion of darkwave, gothic music, medieval influences, world music and neoclassical textures.

The album opens with the breathtaking "The Host Of Seraphim", a slow-building and deeply atmospheric composition dominated by Lisa Gerrard's extraordinary, otherworldly vocals. "Orbis De Ignis" provides a brief instrumental interlude before "Severance" introduces a more rhythmic and hypnotic quality.

"The Writing On My Father's Hand" continues the album's shadowy, ritualistic atmosphere, while "In The Kingdom Of The Blind The One-Eyed Are Kings" combines Brendan Perry's vocals with sparse instrumentation and a distinctly medieval character.

Side two opens with "Chant Of The Paladin", bringing a stronger rhythmic presence to the album, before the short "Song Of Sophia" and "Echolalia" create a series of atmospheric transitions. "Mother Tongue" is one of the record's most powerful and immersive pieces, while "Ullyses" provides a suitably dramatic conclusion.

The Serpent's Egg represents a fascinating point in Dead Can Dance's evolution. The duo were moving increasingly away from the post-punk and gothic foundations of their earlier work towards a more expansive musical language incorporating Eastern European, Middle Eastern, medieval and classical influences.

The album's sparse arrangements and cavernous production give it an almost ancient quality, while Gerrard's extraordinary vocal performances add an intensely emotional and spiritual dimension. The result is music that sits outside conventional genre boundaries and has influenced generations of darkwave, neoclassical and experimental artists.

For collectors of Dead Can Dance, Lisa Gerrard, Brendan Perry, darkwave, gothic music, ethereal music, neoclassical and world-influenced alternative music, The Serpent's Egg is an essential and deeply atmospheric album.

Tracklist

Side A

1. The Host Of Seraphim – 6:17
2. Orbis De Ignis – 1:35
3. Severance – 3:22
4. The Writing On My Father's Hand – 3:50
5. In The Kingdom Of The Blind The One-Eyed Are Kings – 4:11

Side B

1. Chant Of The Paladin – 3:48
2. Song Of Sophia – 1:24
3. Echolalia – 1:17
4. Mother Tongue – 5:16
5. Ullyses – 5:09