Spiritchaser is the seventh studio album by Dead Can Dance, and would prove to be the last before the duo reunited fourteen years later for Anastasis. It expands on its exploration of world music, and like Into the Labyrinth, was recorded at Quivvy Church, Brendan Perry's personal studio in Ireland.
The album was dedicated to Lisa Gerrard's deceased brother, Mark Gerrard.
The track "Indus" contains a melody that is very similar to that of "Within You Without You", a Beatles song that George Harrison wrote and recorded with Indian musicians in 1967. Although their use of a similar melody was not deliberate, Perry and Gerrard were asked to contact Harrison for his permission to use it; he granted it, but the record company insisted that they give him partial songwriting credit on "Indus".
In 2020, Spiritchaser was named by Brazilian metal musician Max Cavalera as his favorite "non-metal" album ever.
Track listing
Release history Country Date Australia 3 June 1996 United Kingdom 17 June 1996 United States 25 June 1996
Personnel Personnel adapted from Spiritchaser liner notes. Dead Can Dance Lisa Gerrard – vocals, instrumentation, production Brendan Perry – vocals, instrumentation, production
Additional personnel Robert Perry – percussion (tracks 1 and 5) Lance Hogan – percussion (tracks 1 and 5) Peter Ulrich – percussion (tracks 1 and 5) Rónán Ó Snodaigh – percussion (tracks 1 and 5) Renaud Pion – Turkish clarinet (track 3) Klaus Vormehr – engineering (tracks 1 and 5)
Charts
Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for Spiritchaser Chart (1996) Peakposition Australian Albums (ARIA) 93 European Albums (Music & Media) 56 UK Independent Albums (OCC) 6 US World Albums (Billboard) 1
Year-end charts + Year-end chart performance for Spiritchaser Chart (1996) Position US World Albums (Billboard) 11
Certifications
References
External links at the band's official website Spiritchaser lyrics at Genius.com