Spiritchaser [LP]

Spiritchaser, Dead Can Dance’s seventh album, was released in 1996 and was the final studio album the band released with 4AD (it was to be another 16 years until they reconvened to make their eighth, Anastasis). Again recording at Brendan’s Quivvy Church in Ireland and as hinted at by the album’s title, the band had moved their focus away from the traditional medieval and Eastern sound of their middle albums to work with African and Caribbean tribal rhythms. Still unmistakeably Dead Can Dance, percussion is at the forefront throughout Spiritchaser and despite contributions from Ronan O’Snodaigh, Renaud Pion, Lance Hogan, Robert Perry and Peter Ulrich on a few tracks, the album is mostly just Perry and Gerrard. In fine voice throughout, like their whole career’s work, their strong singing remains the centerpiece.