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NEWS: Lisa Gerrard and Jules Maxwell weave an ecstatic world dance with "Noyalain (Burn)"

Lisa Gerrard and Jules Maxwell 2
30 March 2021

Lisa Gerrard and Jules Maxwell composite photo – Photo courtesy of Atlantic Curve

Today we return to a release related to a long-time fan favourite – Dead Can Dance. Their inimitable vocalist Lisa Gerrard, together with DCD bandmate Jules Maxwell, have released their joint masterpiece of a single – ‘Noyalain (Burn)’. Here they masterfully whet the appetite of listeners across the globe for their forthcoming studio album Burn.

Produced by James Chapman (MAPS), their long-play will be released on May 7th via Atlantic Curve, a London-based label that is part of the Schubert Music Europe.

Seven specially commissioned films have been completed to coincide with the release of the album. In this first offering, Polish director Jacob Chelkowski’s video for ‘Noyalain (Burn)’ proves more than a little provocative in these days of Covid, as it portrays the simple, traumatic act of touching. It is beautifully orchestrated, showing a diversity of characters but summoning the humanity and emotion in each touch and caress.

““Noyalain is a song of welcome. An invitation to walk in peace, unlock the passive passion within, engage in the diversity of life and celebrate,” says Lisa Gerrard.

“It is with great pleasure that I share this collaboration with Jules Maxwell. Jules and I began our creative journey with Dead Can Dance. We realized that we could connect through improvisation and that musical exploration continues to evolve with this present work.”

Under this new guise, Gerrard and Maxwell have created an album that presents a wonderfully diverse mix of electronica, alternative, cinematic soundscape and world music with hints of early Vangelis.

The record began its journey more than seven years ago, when Lisa met Irish theater composer Jules Maxwell before working together for the first time. Things really took root when Gerrard and Maxwell began writing songs for their earlier collaboration ‘The Mystery Of The Bulgarian Voices (Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares)’. They were later introduced to Chapman and asked him to produce this album, which represents a stunning departure for all three of them.

With Chapman joining the duo as producer, ideas began to be generated freely and over time a distinct sound for their work began to emerge. Their focus was to create a sound that was both euphoric and compelling, more inventive than what they had worked on separately in the past. From gentle beginnings, each track builds and intensifies, creating a hypnotic experience to listen to from start to finish.

“Noyalain is the first song we created which began to play images in my mind’s eye. Widescreen images of far horizons and great landscapes. Of the living world at it’s most devastatingly beautiful,” says Jules Maxwell.

With Lisa remaining in Australia, Jules adding his keys and percussion from France, and James bringing new light to the sound from England, the three were literally worlds apart, but those worlds fused in this music.

Earlier this month, Jules Maxwell also released his sophomore solo album Nocturnes – the debut release for the newly-formed Archangelo Recordings. This beautifully melancholic collection of instrumental pieces was written and recorded over the past four years, much of it in collaboration with the acclaimed UK-based Vincent Dance Theater.

‘Noyalain (Burn)’ is available digitally and can be ordered HERE. The full Burn album, set for release on May 7, can be pre-ordered on vinyl, CD and digitally HERE

Lisa Gerrard
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Jules Maxwell
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