AION

Despite the wonderful cover lifted from Hieronymous Bosch's 'Garden of Delights' this album was a big disappointment to me. It's almost as though they thought too hard about how to follow up their previous brilliant 4 LP's. Too static, too soft, too graceful with too much light and not enough inspiration. Cor blimey, that's a criticism I never thought I'd use on Dead Can Dance.

Recorded in Brendan Perry's 'church' in Ireland, 'Aion', at the end of the day, is something of a non-entity. Very mediaeval in sound, with lots of ancient instruments played competently enough, it doesn't carry the same impact as '88's 'Serpent's Egg'.

If truth be told, it's a real bore.

Brendan Perry perks things up a bit with 'Black Sun' - evoking certain parts of 'Within the Realm' with suitable reverb on his vocals, but it still falls somewhat flat...

Not a patch on 'Spleen and Ideal' or 'Within the Realm...'

Middle Age Renaissance pop, and also very short in its sub 40 min duration.