I have been listening to Ulrich's "Pathways and Dawns" for longer than any other album I have reviewed in the past. This is partly because I moved and was unable to type my review until now and partly because I was waiting to interview him, but mostly because it is so darn good!
I am and have been a Dead Can Dance* fan, and spent many hundreds of hours listening to DCD, sometimes crying. Now that I have heard Peter Ulrich solo, I can go back and see how much he really contributed to DCD. I can hear his manic percussion mounting into a tribal frenzy or his delicate percussive bits sounding like a gentle stream. To all of you who also grew up on Dead Can Dance, let me state that "Pathways and Dawns" is not all percussion, nor is it an attempt to replay DCD. It is new, but definitely as good as the past.
Peter Ulrich's personal sound will definitely be pleasing to the ears of fans of world music, from "Life Amongst The Black Sheep" (which I have dubbed the RenFaire** song) with a definite celtic beat and sound to the classical guitar sound of "Nocturne" to the tribal ritual of "Evocation." In addition to the expected percussion, we hear on this album a surprising variety of other instruments. Ulrich and others sing and Brendan Perry plays guitars and a hurdy gurdy. There are also electronic elements, trombones, oboe, whistles and flutes. The lyrics are excellent, and the sound is very accessible.
Peter Ulrich treads the thin line that many artists in similar categories also walk, and he balances perfectly. Lean too far to the Darkwave side, and lose listeners in other categories because you're "too goth." Lean too far to a new agey side and lose listeners because your sounds are too light. Get too ethnic and lose most of your audiences in other ethnic groups. This album has enough of a beat, but not too much.
I have also played my promo copy for many friends, and I must say that it is very widely accepted. I absolutely love it, and haven't found anyone yet who doesn't like it. So it's a very smart buy. I can guarantee you'll like it.
*Peter Ulrich was formerly the percussionist for Dead Can Dance. See the interview I conducted for more details.
**RenFaire is shorthand for the Renaissance Festival, which travels throughout America in the summer and fall, and to which Lords and Ladies and Poets and Jesters and Beggars come in period costumes. The RenFaire is crowded with booths where Renaissance craftsmen peddle their wares and services. It is a heaven on earth to me. "Life Amongst the Black Sheep" sounds like a RenFaire.
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Peter Ulrich interview
