Dead Can Dance – Spleen And Ideal (VG/VG+) – LP, UK 1985

Spleen And Ideal is an LP by Dead Can Dance from 1985 released on the 4AD label.

About this album

Spleen and Ideal is the album that sharpened Dead Can Dance’s identity into something singular: austere, gothic and deeply atmospheric, yet driven by classical ambition. Released in 1985, it marked a striking shift from the group’s earlier post-punk roots towards a darker, more orchestral sound built on Lisa Gerrard’s wordless vocals, Brendan Perry’s sombre baritone and carefully layered instrumentation. The record helped define the ethereal and darkwave currents of the mid-1980s, and its blend of medieval colour, modern classical forms and alternative rock tension has made it one of the duo’s most admired early works.