LISA GERRARD & PATRICK CASSIDY IMMORTAL MEMORY ALBUM 4AD, PLAYGROUND RELEASE: JANUARY 26, 2004 REVIEW: JANUARY 4, 2004

To say that Lisa Gerrard is just talented would be to make an understatement. This Australian woman, who was one half of genre-bending and unique duo Dead Can Dance, is a gifted musical mastermind. On this, her fourth solo-album since the debut in 1995, she proves just that. Crossing boundaries as always, Gerrard and co-worker Patrick Cassidy, mixes influences both sacred and profane, both western and eastern and manages to produce an album almost ethereal in its beauty. "Enya for the thinking man", one could say. But that would be to make it very easy for oneself. Sure, the Celtic and dreamlike qualities is to be found on "Immortal Memory", most notably in enchanting "The Song for Amergin", but this album is so much more than that.
"Immortal Memory" deserves to be heard and adored by all who enjoyed Dead Can Dance. And by all who didn’t. It deserves to be your companion when you think, write, sleep, eat, live. Hell, it even deserves to be the lost soundtrack to "Lord of the Rings". Sure, it’s a bit too low-key at times and sure, it’s also maybe a tad bit too much alike all the way through. But if you feel like being carried away from your mundane life to higher heights, there is no better choice at the moment.

KALLE MALMSTEDT