Originally released in 1984, Garden of the Arcane Delights acts as a bridge between the Australian darkwave/gothic rock duo's first two albums, the self-titled Dead Can Dance and Spleen and Ideal (as a matter of fact, CD versions of the debut, later released, feature the 4 tracks presented here). Tribal rhythms and melodic oddities mesmerize while Lisa Gerrard's chants/mantras/howling/vocals take the listeners into a calm, meditative state ("Carnival of Light, "Flowers of the Sea"), with Brendan Perry pushing things further into the dark and atmospheric ("In Power We Entrust the Love Advocated," "The Arcane"). This 2016 pressing also includes Dead Can Dance's sessions for John Peel on the second LP, which features songs from the group's debut ("Ocean," "Threshold,") and more, all recorded around the same time as the EP. The 2LP set is covered by a sketch by Perry, which depicts "primal man deprived of perception, standing within the confines of a garden containing a fountain and trees laden with fruit…" Deep, weird, and brilliant just like the group's music!

• gatefold sleeve
• music label: 4AD 2016

reviewed by kanim 12/2016