|
Oh by the way, some suggestions:
I would suggest you to check some other early releases of the 4AD label, since the current label was the epitome of 80s ethereal/avant-garde music. It is funny that most of these bands like Dead Can Dance have either distorted language or singing non-sense (modern post-rock/ambient groups such as Sigur Ros seem to be influenced by these tactics. By the way make sure to listen to Von by Sigur Ros since it has an early Dead Can Dance atmosphere). So, if you haven't already check on Cocteau Twins (i would suggest "Blue Bell Knoll" for starters and then "Treasure", "Head Over Heels", "Heaven or Las Vegas" etc.), This Mortal Coil ("It'll End in Tears", "Blood", "Filigree and Shadow") and even a darker 80s synthpop-darkwave group which were the awesome Clan of Xymox ("Medusa", "Twist of Shadows", "Xymox" are the only ones you care about). These were all atmospheric bands of the early 4AD period and IMO are worth checking out. Note though that these bands don't necessarily have the "Ethnic"/"folkloric" essence in their music like Dead Can Dance. Dead Can Dance were probably the only ones doing that in the 80s. These bands surely are atmospheric and ethereal but not "Ethnic" in the sense of having e.g. celtic/arabic/african influences or influences of traditional medieval music. Dead Can Dance have influenced though a second wave of darkwave/ethereal bands which have a medieval and/or ethnic essence such as:
Arcana (almost a Dead Can Dance cut-copy but all albums are great!)
Death In June - "But What Ends When Symbols Shatter", "Rose Clouds of Holocaust". Post-apocalyptic folklore! Now thats a genre name! In a few words beautiful classical guitars blended with ambient synths and the guys deep vocals
melancholic and mystical
Sol Invictus - "In A Garden Green"!
Black Tape For A Blue Girl - huge DCD influence. Very orchestral and ambient. "Remnants of A Deeper Purity" and "This Lush Garden Within" are their best (although they could be a bit tiresome with their slow compositions)!
Love Spiral Downwards -big DCD influence. "Idylls" and "Ever" are ESSENTIAL albums!
The Shroud- "Long Ago and Far Away" as well as "A Dark Moon Night". Simply my two favorite albums in that style. Very hard to find today though!
Stoa- "Urthona" and "Porta VIII", Dead Can Dance influenced but sometimes i like them better! Awesome dark ambient atmospheres with an arcane essence!
Lycia- "The Burning Circle and The Dust", "Cold", "Estrella" all excellent! Please listen.
Mira - "Mira" and "Apart" are excellent albums. Gentle shoegazing with beautiful female vocals and a mystical edge.
Attrition - "In the Realm of The Hungry Ghosts". Cult ethereal album.
Coil (blending the industrial/experimental with weird medieval)
There are more but they don't occure to me right now!
If you search for more watered-down/mainstream spiritual new-age/world-music stuff, i would suggest you to explore "new-age" music such as:
Amethystium (this is my favorite one. Awesome music and not fake like other New Age/world music projects)
Era
Secret Garden
Magna Carta
Afro-Celt Soundsystem
Mythos
Lesiem
Deep Forest (Boheme)
Enigma (ofcourse!)
Lux Vivens (the music of the surreal director David Lynch!)
Ofcourse stuff by Vangelis...
These would get you started!
|