Description

 Audio CD (June 29, 2004)
Label: The End Records 
Bitrate: 256kbps
Genre: Darkwave

The Lotus Eaters" is a valentine for one of the most original, memorable groups of the past 20 years. Dead Can Dance produced music that was startling in it's ancient sources and hypnotic, highly emotional sounds and words. Like Jim Morrison, Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry eventually became a major influence and favorite artists of choice among the goth, darkwave music crowd. It is fair to say that years from now Ashlee Simpson and Linkin Park will sound dated and confined to this era while the music of Dead Can Dance will still sound exciting and hypnotic (let's not forget a lot of what they played was already popular...2,000 years ago). "The Lotus Eaters" is full of both attempts to recreate the original songs and to propell them into the new century. Sometimes it works to impressive effect, and like all tribute albums it also has it's undesirable moments.
Disc 1 features some noteoworthy performances, the first being by Persephone, their rendition of "Spirit" keeps a classic, Eastern meets mainstream feel that makes it enjoyable and fresh. Sonja Kraushofer's vocals are beautiful and though she doesn't match Gerrard it doesn't matter because it is a sound all her own. Faith And The Muse give us a dark, pulsing "Mesmerism" that stays true to the original and almost transports you to some ancient ritualistic meeting. 
The best metallic performance is Imperia's "The Lotus Eaters." It's a snarling, crawling take on the very ancient-sounding original, but with gusto and style and Helena Iren Michaelsen's vocals shine and provide a beautiful expression for the wall of chords. Sarah Jezebel Deva's "The Wind That Shakes The Barley" wonderfully displays her vocal range and she delivers a powerful, folk-laced performance. Disc 2 has some powerful moments such as The Gathering's "The Power We Entrust The Love Advocated." This is a soaring performance with a real sense of atmosphere, words and emotions, painting images for feelings. Akrabu's "Desert Song" is lush and keeps a great Middle Eastern texture that makes it sound like an artifact from the days when Alexander The Great was marching into Persia. "The Lotus Eaters" has more to offer and one can appreciate it's daring scope. One can appreciate the artist's dedication to honoring this most original of groups. Many of the tracks are lush and exotic, filled with a true sense of artistry.  

CD.1

01. Arcana - In The Wake Of Adversity 
02. Persephone - Spirit 
03. Danny Lilker [Nuclear Assault] - Cantara 
04. Ataraxia - Bylar 
05. Faith And The Muse - Mesmerism 
06. Trail Of Tears - The Arcane 
07. Hortus Animae [with Liv Kristine Espenaes] - Windfall - Summoning Of The Muse 
08. Amber Asylum - Cardinal Sin 
09. Grido - Rakim 
10. Anathema - How Fortunate Is The Man With 
11. Imperia [Helena Iren Michaelsen - ex Trail Of Tears] - The Lotus Eaters 
12. Ephemeral Sun - Avatar 
13. Sarah Jezebel Deva [C.O.F. Female Signer] - The Wind That Shakes The Barley 

CD.2

01. Black Tape For A Blue Girl - Fortune Present Gifts Not According To The Book 
02. Jarboe [ex Swans] - American Dreaming 
03. Antimatter - Black Sun 
04. The Gathering - In Power We Entrust The Love Advocated 
05. Nightfall - The Obiguitous Mr. Lovegrove 
06. Darkwell - Anywhere Out Of The World 
07. Ulver - In The Kingdom Of The Blind The One-Eyed Are Kings 
08. Akrabu - Desert Song 
09. Noekk [ex Empyrium] - How Fortunate Is The Man With None 
10. Imperial Black [New Band Of ex C.O.F. Bassist] - Enigma Of The Absolute 
11. Secrets Of The Moon & Nostalgia - The Protagonist 
12. Monumentum - Windfall 
13. Subterranean Masquerade - Summoning Of The Muse (Deconstructed)