Search - Danse Society :: Seduction: Danse Society Collection

Heaven Has Arrived

A. Garcia | New York, US | 06/26/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is excellent dark synthesizer "goth", with a post-punk flavor. If you like Clan of Xymox, Xmal Deutschland, or early Cure, you will more than likely like this. Prior to the release of this CD, all Danse Society releases were deleted on all formats; and globally unavailable for many years. The only Danse Society tracks which were commercially available were the classic "We're So Happy", on the Gothic Rock compiltaion, and the glorious "Somewhere", which was also released on a subsequent edition of Gothic Rock. I am forever indebted to Cherry Red records for releasing this CD. For the first time, you can hear tracks like Danse/Move, Belief, Clock, Godsend, and Falling Apart, minus the clicks and pops found on the old vinyl records. The musicianship on these songs is excellent; the keyboards go hand in hand with the guitar melodies, and Steve Rawling's vocals are simply superb. The only drawback to this CD is that it is missing the song "There is No Shame in Death". Other than that, you've got all of the songs on The Danse Society's early singles, as well as those on the Seduction EP. The CD package features artwork from the Seduction EP, a discography w/cover artwork for all their early singles, plus keyboardist Lyndon Scarfe's commentary on their early days. Now if only Cherry Red records would only re-release the Danse Society's "Heaven is Waiting" CD......"

The '80s are revisited

A. Garcia | 07/28/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Looking a band that rode the new wave of the 80s? This is a compilation of additional singles by Danse Society albeit the band's earlier years. Mainstream new wave fans may be chilled by the haunting melodies. Yet, the whirl of the guitar is akin to Edge's shrieks (U2), the keyboards add a dimensional sound akin to Joy Division/New Order; early Simple Minds before "New Gold Dream 81-82-83-84"; early OMD before "Junk Culture". Its not that the band sought a relationalship tag that links them to a genre or sub-genre. For six years, actually less, they sought to do their own thing. It is unfair, to make any musical correlations, because the band did bring a fresh approach to the music of the 80's. Although the time the band made records was short ;they had crafted some good tunes. On this cd, you'll find a punk flavored "Clock", a moderate tempo song of the agonies of a love life "My Heart" and the driving toe tapping ditty "Somewhere" which originally a single that ended up on the bands USA Arista vinyl LP "Heaven Is Waiting". Your mediocre scribe wishes that "Say It Again" all versions would be re-issued available for purchase on compact disc. It this song that was their musical zenith. The club version and extended versions are a powerhouse dance song. The 80's are revisited with this re-issue. Will there be more to follow?"