Search - Various :: Summoning Of The Muse: A Tribute To Dead Can Dance

The best DCD tribute so far

Scott Sweet | Colorado Springs, CO | 09/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I only hit "skip" twice, and that ain't bad for a full-length CD. Many of the songs don't deviate a lot from the original versions. Several tracks are exclusive to this CD.



Overall, the songs are tribal/folk/ethereal with a "Heavenly Voices" aesthetic. Arcana's cover of "The Arcane" sets the mood perfectly. The person who reviewed this album before me is a member of Rajna ("Cantara"), which is another highlight of the album. Good work, Fabrice.



Autumn's Grey Solace gives "Musica Eternal" the Cocteau Twins treatment, while Faith and The Muse sticks closely to the letter and spirit of "Chant of The Paladin." With Monica Richards' voice, it sounds like music for an ancient wedding *or* sacrificial rite. Athan Maroulis is still one of my favorite male "goth"-identified singers.



Mirabilis brings a gorgeous, solemn vocal harmony to "The Writing on My Father's Hand". It gets harder and harder to tell which one is Dru Allen, and which is Summer Bowman. Chandeen's "In Power We Entrust...I Wish These Songs Had Shorter Titles" has a Loreena McKennitt appeal. Stoa's piano-intensive take on "Cantara" is a fitting closure to the compilation. The low horns on this one stir the blood.



My only gripe with DCD tributes: FOR GOD'S SAKE, WILL SOMEONE PLEASE COVER "XAVIER", ONE OF THE GREATEST SONGS EVER? If no one else does it, I'm gonna do it. Do we really want that hanging over our heads?"

Murky shadows of the real thing

CAS | Los Angeles, CA USA | 02/23/2007

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I love DCD and have since the mid 80's. Maybe I am missing the point of a tribute album, because this album, while okay, offers nothing new, musically or emotionally. I was hoping that some talented artist world interpret the music and soul of these songs for themselves - and in turn share with us a new perspective and a new experience. But instead all that is here are some simplistic renditions and uninviting covers. What bothered me the most are the pieces where the tribute band did everything they could (vocals and instruments) to sound just like DCD. My first comment would be... `not possible', and the second would be `Why' even if you could??? I can see the enjoyment from the musician's point of view of playing the music the same as DCD did, but not as the one who is listening! The few songs where the artists took the music and made it their own were much more enjoyable for me, but there is just not enough of that here. Mostly the music is just murky shadows of the real thing."

At last a worthy tribute to Dead Can Dance !

Fabrice Lefebvre | Lille, FRANCE | 09/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As the singer from Rajna, I wanted to tell everyone that this brand new Tribute to DCD " Summoning of the Muse " is a wonderful work that has been done by 11 different artists such as Black Tape for a Blue Girl, Arcana, Dark Sanctuary, Stoa, Chandeen, Faith & the Muse, Rajna ... It is at last a worthy tribute with highlights including :" The arcane, Summoning of the muse, Musica Eternal, Cantara, Ulysses " and so on.

Finally, I will add that the artwork is fabulous , in adequacy with the DCD Tour 2005 design.

The nicest tribute to DCD for years !

If you would have one CD to buy, that will be this one !



Jeanne LEFEBVRE.

"