A Question for Robin Guthrie

[E-Lo]

Dear Robin, something has been intriguing me for well over 12 year now . . .

On Dead Can Dance's 1984 debut album liner notes, they thank Ivo and Robin. I am assuming you are the Robin, and if so, to what extend did you help on this album? Did you play guitar on any of the tracks?

Thanks,
Ernie

[robin guthrie]

I mixed a track or two on the album, I honestly couldn't tell you which one(s) as it's years since I heard it.. I can't remember playing guitar on it but that doesn't mean I didn't. I do remember that it was music that they had recorded in Australia before they came to the UK...hope this helps

[E-Lo]

Originally posted by robin guthrie
I mixed a track or two on the album, I honestly couldn't tell you which one(s) as it's years since I heard it.. I can't remember playing guitar on it but that doesn't mean I didn't. I do remember that it was music that they had recorded in Australia before they came to the UK...hope this helps

Wow, that is way cool Robin. Thank you so much for clearing that up.

Now you've got me dying to figure out which tracks! I can definitely hear your influence on "Threshold," "The Trial," and "The Fatal Impact." There's a definite Garlands-esque beautiful, chilling distortion style I hear.

Moltes gràcies,

Ernie

[ScottL]

Yeah, pretty interesting....I always thought I heard similar sounds to Garlands on Threshold too, one of my favorite tracks on that album...I didn't buy it until I'd heard most other DCD albums, so I was a little irked when that abrasive sound started out on The Fatal Impact and then it took a while to warm up to the album...

[mmmender]

ah yes the DCD debate.

ever meet a cocteau twins fan who DOESN'T like DCD?

you just did.

[ScottL]

Originally posted by E-Lo
I can definitely hear your influence on "Threshold," "The Trial," and "The Fatal Impact." There's a definite Garlands-esque beautiful, chilling distortion style I hear.

He E-Lo, I thought about it after I posted before, that album was several years after Garlands, so I guess the question might be for Brendan and Lisa, were they influenced by listening to CT themselves...Robin mentioned they'd recorded stuff beforehand in Australia, so perhaps they had been heavily into CT when they wrote it...makes me wonder how the collaboration came about, did they ask or did someone at 4AD suggest bringing in Robin for some mixing...

Also, I popped it in again today, I really dig those drums on Frontier.

[Tinspur]

I'm rather lukewarm towards DCD, they have some beautiful arrangements, but the lead singer sounds too much like Jim Morrisson.

[REPLICESS]

Lisa is a GODDESS

[dynamine]

Originally posted by Tinspur
but the lead singer

and Lisa only did 'backing vocals' & 'duets'?

let's see, MR MOJO RISIN...Brendan Perry=
"my wild love"..."the arcane"...let's see here

[Phil Lawton]

You're not alone, Lees...DCD bore me silly.

[kookaburra]

Originally posted by Phil Lawton
...DCD bore me silly.

Go back to work, Phil. It's Monday.

[JohnnyV]

DCD; great stuff!!!

[zed]

...DCD leave me flat. only the cut about the circus leaveing town (forgot the title.) i enjoy now and then........ udder than that,*pppffsst.* nofink.

btw..Robin......umm.......Fiona at BU? she umm......busy?

Z.

[REPLICESS]

Phil, you can't have heard 'Oceans'/ 'The fatal impact'/'Threshold' then ? (all from the 1984 album) -

all so beautiful, they make me weepy

[JohnnyV]

Phil's in hiding from a man wearing a tutu...doesn't that say enough?

[E-Lo]

Originally posted by ScottL
that album was several years after Garlands, so I guess the question might be for Brendan and Lisa, were they influenced by listening to CT themselves...perhaps they had been heavily into CT when they wrote it

I suspect early DCD were influenced directly by early CT, e.g., the 1984 album's guitar distortion, bass strumming, and Lisa's vocalizations

[ScottL]

Yeah, E-Lo, that's what I was thinking. That's why I wondered if they put in a word with 4AD to get Robin to help them with some mixing...and the Garlands sounding guitar stuff was just Brendan's work after hearing CT.

As you were suggesting, on some songs too(like 'Frontier') it sounds like Lisa had some lines in English which she masked in the pronunciation, very much like Garlands..

[iceblink555]

Isn't "Frontier" one of the two DCD tracks on LIAEyesore? (Along with The Protagonist, I think?). Those are the only two DCD songs I've ever really liked much. It's a close call, but just a bit too deep on the vocals and "gothy" for my taste. But I do like most of Lisa's sndtrk work. If only she'd bring it up an octave, I'd prolly love her almost as much as....

--Alan
np: Elliot Smith - needle in the hay

[willy]

Originally posted by JohnnyV
Phil's in hiding from a man wearing a tutu...doesn't that say enough?

Hmm. Phil, Bishop Desmond sends his love to you as he has tried to do many a time (I am wearing him, again, right this minute). Pop over this evening when you finish work, for some shenanigans. We can 'bash the bishop' just like the good old days.

[halation]

I love "The Serpent's Egg" especially Severence. Haven't really heard much other than that and Aion.