LP Of The Week - Burn by Lisa Gerrard & Jules Maxwell

Lisa Gerrard and Jules Maxwell, both members of Dead Can Dance, once again deliver the goods with their album, “Burn”. A neo-classical, cinematic masterpiece, “Burn” bridges the gap between traditional classical music, Celtic folk, Eastern, Japanese folk and New Age ambience. One of their strengths through the decades has been their originality, their vision and ability to interchange sub-genres within classical music. However, without a doubt, it’s through the exemplary vocals of Lisa Gerrard, that their credibility has shone above their peers. With a contralto voice that spans three octaves, Gerrard is an outstanding vocalist, whose rich, deep and ethereal tones vibrate and resonate on a mesmeric scale. Listening to Gerrard perform is an all-consuming affair. She basically has a voice that sends you into a trance, like a force or entity from a different world.

Gerrard, along with her creative partner Jules Maxwell, makes music that are symphonies from our subconscious, reuniting them with our hopes, dreams and sorrows. Through the synth-pop soundscapes, pulsating beats and baroque pop, “Burn” circumnavigates through time, overlapping stylistically and spinning full circle to produce a contemporary chef d’oeuvre.

“Burn” is a show stopper, an aural tapestry of haunting beauty, spiritual awakenings and holographic horizons. It’s an album that provides a gateway to our ancestors, our primitive selves, taking us to a higher state of consciousness. It’s an album that soothes, stimulates and soars, providing comfort like a translucent blanket wrapped around our souls.

With the opening track, “Heleali (The Sea Will Rise)”, they awaken the sea-gods and mediate majestically between the ebb and flow of Gerrard’s primal chants. Like a peace loving prophet, Gerrard’s voice tames the tumultuous tides and levitates amongst the celestial synths and haunting haze.

With the second track, “Noyalain (Burn)“, Gerrard’s vocals return to her Celtic circle of deities, folklore and musical mantra. Through her looping and overlapping wails, Gerrard unearths past treasures, unlocking their power and creating a portal for regeneration and rebirth.

Through the discord and oblique synths “Deshta (Forever)” descends into darker depths of its soul, only to be resurrected by the hypnotic tones of Gerrard. A sublime track, “Deshta (Forever)” reverberates and spins through a vortex of Eastern charm, like a Hindu goddess, fuelled by a sacred fire that burns the embers from deep within, mutating and manifesting in an array of guises.

Through piano-esque and shattered synths, “Adavyeem (A Time To Dance)”, takes a mild excursion towards Baroque-pop, and is redirected by the Industrial clatter. Along with the subtle nuances and speckled vocals, “Adavyeem (A Time To Dance)”, awakens the senses, in a serene celebration from dusk to dawn.

“Orion (The Weary Huntsman)” is a mesmerising track, whose stripped down chimes provide a pathway to a faraway forest. Through the operatic vocals of Gerrard, “Orion (The Weary Huntsman)” trails along an elongated tightrope of emotion, that lingers and echoes in the wilderness.

Through the crestfallen vocals of Gerrard, “Keson (Until My Strength Returns)”, dips and glides in unison with the glittering synths. Along with the drawn-out synths, “Keson (Until My Strength Returns)” resides in the shadows, creating a nocturnal ambience amongst the stars.

“Do So Yol (Gather The Wind)” is a magnetic track, whose exotic, operatic vocals soar towards heavenly heights. Like an incandescent songbird flying high, “Do So Yol (Gather The Wind)” oscillates freely amongst the flickering synths in a jubilant haze. It’s a track that exudes a dreamy grandiose, a sense of euphoria aside the solitude piano and unified beats.