Dead Can Dance's Into the Labyrinth

Funny to stumble upon this thread here...I used to listen to a lot of the 4AD bands when I was in high school in the 80s, and saw Dead Can Dance play at Berklee in Boston in 1990 (the same month as a Cocteau Twins show I also saw), around the time they were moving from their original, darker sound into more medieval- and classical-influenced territory. It was an interesting show (particularly their cover of Sinead O'Connor's then-hit "I Am Stretched on Your Grave," sung by Brendan rather than Lisa).

Just a minor correction/clarification for those interested: "This Mortal Coil" is not the title of a compilation album, but rather 4AD head honcho Ivo Watts-Russell's band/studio project--really just a loose collective of musicians connected to the 4AD label and other similar labels. Their first release was a 1983 12" titled "Song to the Siren" (a cover of the Tim Buckley song)--members of Cocteau Twins played on this one, but not DCD. "It'll End in Tears" was the LP released in 1984; "Filigree & Shadow" was a double LP released in 1986; and "Blood" was an LP from 1990, I think. After that I lost track with most things 4AD. Note that a lot of TMC's songs are, of course, covers--of Tim Buckley, Big Star (the third album), Colin Newman (formerly of the classic punk band Wire), Talking Heads, Gene Clark, Judy Collins, Van Morrisson, etc.

Joshua

More wonderful Lisa Gerard haunting vocals in her soundtrack for 'Whalerider' - great movie as well!

Message for AM_Dial.. that Cocteau Twins show you saw in 1990, was that the tour with Galaxie 500? I've always been depressed that I didn't catch that tour, I was in Cleveland but they played in Columbus..

Thanks,
Mason

Mason--

No, and yes--Cocteau Twins played Boston in, I think, November 1990, I believe at the Orpheum. This was the show I saw about a week before or after the Dead Can Dance show.

I did see Galaxie 500 open for Cocteau Twins at the Boston University ice hockey arena --but that was in March 1991. And it was by far the more memorable show of the two--BU had placed thick pads down over the ice (hockey season had yet to end; BU's team is usually good), but even before Galaxie 500 was done playing, my feet were freezing. Of course (as the Galaxie 500 box set liner notes explain), this was the next-to-last show Galaxie 500 ever played. Glad I caught them then! I remember Dean Wareham doing some amazing e-bow guitar during "Hearing Voices."

Joshua

I got to see DCD at Radio City Music Hall on 10/8. Fabulous show in a great venue, and one of only two shows on the tour done with an orchestra. Very different show than the 1998 tour - much more solo Lisa stuff. She can sing the most incredibly difficult vocal parts with no sign of strain - amazing.

This tour is over, but since they sold out everywhere and Brendan and Lisa got through it without killing each other, I'd be surprised if they didn't get out on the road again soon. They're not to be missed.

David