Toward the Within [Live] [Soundtrack]

Track Listings

1. Rakim

2. Persian Love Song

3. Desert Song

4. Yulunga [Spirit Dance]

5. Piece for Solo Flute

6. Wind That Shakes the Barley

7. I Am Stretched on Your Grave

8. I Can See Now

9. American Dreaming

10. Cantara

11. Oman

12. Song of the Sibyl

13. Tristan

14. Sanvean

15. Don't Fade Away

Toward the Within,Dead Can Dance,Warner Bros / Wea,Alternative Pop/Rock,Dream Pop,Ethnic Fusion,Pop,Popular Music,Rock,World Fusion

Tracks:

Rakim
Persian Love Song
Desert Song
Yulunga (Spirit Dance)
Piece For Solo Flute
The Wind That Shakes The Barley
I Am Stretched On Your Grave
I Can See Now
American Dreaming
Cantara
Oman
Song Of The Sibyl
Tristan
Sanvean
Don't Fade Away

Album Description

Out of print in the U.S.! Import pressing of this 1994 live album from one of the 4AD label's most popular and influential bands. At the core of Dead Can Dance is guitarist Brendan Perry and vocalist Lisa Gerard, who created a body of work that remains invigorating and uniquely their own. 15 tracks. 4AD.

Customer Reviews:

A great live album, and a great place to start.......2007-04-15

One thing to bear in mind when choosing Dead Can Dance albums is that the duo of Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry went through at least four distinct stylistic phases, so you may find that certain albums appeal much more than others. This live album is a wonderful starting point, because it straddles a broad range of their musical styles and abilities. Also, while most artists' live albums simply rehash their existing popular work, of the 15 tracks on this album, only four (Yulunga, The Wind That Shakes the Barley, Cantara, and Song of the Sybil), have appeared on previous DCD releases, making this an individual album in its own right. (Studio versions of two of Lisa's tracks, Persian Love Song and Sanvean, later appeared on her solo Mirror Pool release.) Both performers have never sounded better vocally, and are backed by a band of multi-instrumentalists with impeccable musicianship.

The album opens with one of DCD's all time best tracks, Rakim, long a staple of their live shows but making its first official recorded appearance here. Brendan and Lisa work as an integrated team here, melding her shimmering yang ch'in (Chinese hammer dulcimer) and lilting vocals with his rich Sinatra-like baritone over a driving percussion beat. Percussion is also used to great effect on a later track, Oman, which has a somewhat African and middle eastern flavor. Lisa shines on her vocal showpieces of Persian Love Song, Yulunga, Cantara and Sanvean, demonstrating her amazing multi-octave vocal range. Haunting flutes feature prominently on Desert Song, Piece for Solo Flute, and I Am Stretched On Your Grave; the last is a masterpiece of gloomy goth stylings resonantly delivered by Brendan over an ominous drone. Tristan and Song of the Sybil feature the group in its traditional medieval mode.

The most surprising tracks on the album, which have no stylistic counterparts in DCD's studio work, are three original songs by Brendan: I Can See Now, American Dreaming, and Don't Fade Away. These find Brendan in a singer/songwriter mode, primarily accompanying himself on acoustic guitar, conjuring up comparisons to Tim Buckley and some of Bruce Springsteen's more introspective work. The last two tracks mentioned are among the best songs on the album, but if there is any criticism of them it is that they really don't fit stylistically with the rest of the album or the group's overall oeuvre. In fact, these songs foreshadowed the musical directions Brendan would pursue in his later solo album, Eye of the Hunter.

Listeners finding that they like the medieval styled tracks on the album should check out Aion. Those drawn to Cantara, I Am Stretched On Your Grave, Persian Love Song, and Sanvean should check out Within The Realm of a Dying Sun, Spleen and Ideal, and The Serpent's Egg, along with Lisa's solo album Mirror Pool. Those drawn to Yulunga and the more middle eastern tracks may want to check out Into The Labyrinth, which also features some more straightforward pop songs by Brendan, as of course does his solo album Eye of the Hunter.

Music To Live To.......2007-02-01

I was without the internet/cable for several days and I don't own a radio, so I popped this cd in to listen to. I expected that I would tire of it after two or so repetitions, but I didn't. There's such a wonderful variety of styles of music on the cd that it never feels redundant. From start to finish you travel a wonderful journey that never gets old. Not even when you're playing it on constant repeat for 24 hours straight.

Well integrated influences from a vast range of musical sources.......2006-10-15

Sometimes they sound like cloistered monks, at other times like Druid nature worshipers, and at others like North African nomadic tribes. Their range is amazing as you hear the sounds of Palestine, Ireland, and Libya combined with a very contemporary existential presentation of dark brooding, mournful loss.

Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard seem like contemporary priests of the earth goddess mourning the end of the harvest and the coming winter. At other times Brendan Perry's dark masculine smooth baritone seems to be romantic and passionate, as if we mourning the loss of a lover.

The instrumentation is excellent with a broad range of world instruments. In this CD, which was made from a live performance in Santa Monica California, the power of a live presentation with its required spontanaeity heightens the work.

There were many strong selections on this CD, but some of the best are: Rakim, Piece for solo flute, The wind that shakes the barley, American dreaming, Oman, and Don't fade away. Some of these works are on other CDs but the live performances have an immediacy that is very nice.

Enchanting Vocals w/ a fusion of world music.......2006-04-20

About the Band:
Dead Can Dance is considered the seminal example of the ethereal (in the US) or heavenly voices (in Europe) genre. In fact, the name of the label, 4AD, which carried many of the 1990s DCD releases, is sometimes also used to describe this genre of music, which is a fusion of subtle electronics, vocals, drums, world music, and a near limitless count of instruments. Brendan Perry sometimes has been described as a gothic Frank Sinatra. Lisa Gerrard's enchanting vocals are often sung in a language only known to Lisa. I count myself among the many that hold these two musicians in the highest esteem.

About the Album:
Toward the Within is a live album from 1994, and though many music fans will often prefer the quality associated with a studio recorded album, I personally feel that heavenly voices music is designed to be emotional and moving ... and this album has a sincerity that will touch any listener. Toward the Within is one of my favorite albums. Fans of Brendan Perry's vocals will likely be more pleased by this album, as he provides the lead on the majority of the tracks.

Recommended Tracks:
- I Can See Now
- Don't Fade Away
- Rakim
- American Dreaming
- Desert Song
- The Wind that Shakes the Barley (I like this live version better)
- Cantara

In contrast to two very popular DCD offerings that are also worth checking out, Aion (which is very medieval sounding) and Into the Labyrinth (which is a bit remorseful and dark), I found this entire album extremely uplifting and inspirational. I can't stress enough how much I wish I could sing like Perry, and the truth is that I find myself doing so with this album. Fans of folk and romantic music will absolutely love this album.

Similar Artists:
If you love DCD because of Lisa's and Brendan's vocals, then I am confident you'll enjoy the following heavenly voices artists:
- Impressions of Winter (hard to find) - considered better than DCD, by many DCD fans lucky enough to hear them!!!
- Das Zeichen
- Love is Colder Than Death
- Deine Lakaien
- Qntal
- Helium Vola
- Corvus Corax
- Soil & Eclipse

One word....WOW!!.......2005-09-19

I wish so much I could have been there when they were touring America...It sounds so much like your right there listening to them.

Dead Can Dance is one of the most talented artists I have ever heard. I love their music, and I feel this album is a great piece to add to the collection.

Average customer rating:

My favorite Libana CD...
A Little Better Than A Circle Is Cast
Uplifting, singable music
Fire Within
Libana is a fantastic all women vocal group

Fire Within
Libana
Manufacturer: Ladyslipper
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

A Circle Is Cast
Night Passage
Let It Begin Now
Goddess Chant
Second Chants

ASIN: B0000000A2
Release Date: 1994-07-26

Tracks:

Fire Within
Hotaru Koi
Treeplanter's Round
Con El Viento
Good Friends
Kona Kai Opua I Ka Lai
O Virgo Splendens
Rise Up O Flame
Neesa
Lullaby
Clear Horizon
OdeTo Contentment
I Will Be Gentle With Myself
Now I Walk In Beauty
Be Like A Bird
Lo Yisa Goy
Kwaheri
And She Will Rise

Customer Reviews:

My favorite Libana CD..........2002-07-09

I've been into Libana for over 10 years, and this is by far my favorite, even surpassing "A Circle is Cast." The songs are easy to chant/sing along to and are life/earth affirming, rhythmic and soothing. I particularly am fond of Treeplanter's Round, Con el Viento, Lullaby, Ode to Contentment, Now I Walk in Beauty, and most especially, Be Like a Bird. Even my husband has begun to appreciate Libana through this CD, which is a real breakthrough.

A Little Better Than A Circle Is Cast.......2002-06-05

Just like their other album, it includes songs about the Judeo-Christian Deity. If I wanted that I'd buy one of the countless albums about Jesus! And like A Circle Is Cast the songs are too short and somewhat hard to understand.

To be honest, Libana kind of reminds me of Enya who I'm also not crazy about.

Uplifting, singable music.......2002-03-12

I bought the cassette maybe ten years ago and fell in love. There is a guided meditation, some great circle chants and even a girl scout campfire song! Feminine without being offensively feminist, and somehow delivering the feeling of being very personal. I wish I understood the Spanish: Con El Viento is lovely. Music translates well into other philosophies (some come from other philosophies). Buy it, you'll like it!

Fire Within.......2001-11-24

Some of the songs are great for meditatng

Libana is a fantastic all women vocal group.......1999-01-10

First buy A Circle is Cast, then buy this, if for no other reason than for the Swedish Lulliby.