All tracks written or recorded specifically for this "Lonely is an Eyesore" compilation and its accompanying video, except Dead Can Dance's "Frontier", which is the original 4 track recording. Sleeves and booklets designed by 23 Envelope. Stills are from the "Lonely is an Eyesore" video, directed by Nigel Grierson of 23 Envelope, except Throwing Muses' "Fish", which was directed by Danger Video. Commentaries by Arthur Parker. Typeset at Zeta, London. Originiation at Botany Lithographic, Tonbridge, Kent.
Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard of Dead Can Dance, the two main protagonists, live high up in a high rise. God only knows whether it's getting them closer to heaven...their music tries. It ignores fashion, reaches out for historical touchstones (the choral, the classical, the symphonic), searches for some nebulous, non-aligned spirituality. Add to the fact that some of their work would hardly be misplaced accompanying a mysterious, undefined cinematic quest like Antonioni's The Passenger, and Dead Can Dance begin to seem almost ridiculously ambitious.
But they prefer to impose stringent austerity measures on their art rather than succumb to grand-conceit. They pursue the big questions with a discipline of thought and attention to detail in composition, and the result is usualy something statuesque and solid enough to withstand the ravages of time. This is a music built to last.
'Frontier' (on this record in its original demo form) was recorded in one
take because the essential juices were leaking so fast from the
water-filled oil drume Perry was battering. Somehow, such necessary
spontineity gave way to their taking a year to conceive and record their
second album 'Spleen and Ideal'. That the
visceral effcts of their music have remained the same is either a
testament to immense luck, or great ability. No-one should have much
trouble deciding which.
