Dead Can Dance

Anastasis 4AD***

Dead Can Dance’s first release in 16 years recalls some of the best of Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry’s earlier albums, such as Garden of the Arcane Delights, Into the Labyrinth and Spirit Chaser. Their signature sound remains, as ever, a unique combination of world music instrumentation and old music idioms, with Perry’s troubadour croon and Gerrard’s sacral chant (part ululation, part incantation), but it has not evolved in the intervening decade and half.

Although "anastasis" is the Greek word for resurrection, their new album offers oracular ballads by Perry and invocatory songs by Gerrard that would have fitted perfectly on earlier releases. In fact, several songs sound as if they've been restored from previous material. Anastasis doesn't mark a return to form for Dead Can Dance; rather, it suggests a search for a new one. deadcandance.com

Download tracks:Children of the Sun, Return of the She-King