TOWARD THE WITHIN

Dead Can Dance's only live album of their original incarnation was recorded hot on the heels of Into the Labyrinth, an album on which the duo had become intoxicated by world music but didn't seem to have much of a cohesive vision of how to bring it all together - or, for that matter, when it came to continuing to work together after the end of their romantic relationship. As a result whilst Into the Labyrinth had a number of great songs, it didn't quite seem to work as an album.

As with Into the Labyrinth (and the later Spiritchaser), I feel that Toward the Within is half a Lisa Gerrard solo release and half a Brendan Perry album mashed together uncomfortably. That said, the transition between Gerrard and Perry's sections seem to work somewhat more smoothly in a live context. Whilst it is still a shame that we don't have a solid live album from their true peak (say, around the time of Spleen and Ideal to Aion), Toward the Within to my ears offers a somewhat more cohesive vision than Into the Labyrinth at least.