Current 93, Dead Can Dance, Swans

Three bands that I very much got into over the last few years that started releasing studio albums at about the same time (Current 93 in 1984, Swans in 1983, and Dead Can Dance in 1984). All have had long careers and have continued to release music until recent times and there are stylistic similarities with folk/ neofolk, dark and gothic music, and Swans and Current 93 have industrial qualities, and the one finds darkwave qualities.... Xiu Xiu, which I relate to Swans, I had thought about including too. Anna von Hausswolff is one worth looking into who is into such music.

Please vote for a favourite of these choices, and I would appreciate it if you would perhaps mention a favoured album and perhaps a track from your band choice (you can mention those from all three bands if you like).

With Swans, my first favourite album was Soundtracks for the Blind and then I was very into To Be Kind, and most recently got very into White Light From the Mouth of Infinity. Lots I like and more to explore.

With Current 93, I first go into All the Pretty Little Horses, and been most into Thunder Perfect Mind of late.

With Dead Can Dance, I seem to have particular thing for Spleen and Ideal, but really like others too.

Here is a track from each band that I like:







Feel free to vote no matter how little you know.

I suppose in terms of current importance to me:
1. Swans
2. Dead Can Dance
3. Current 93

Tough call, as they all have excellent moments, but alot of lesser work as well.

I haven't been able to to into Swans when I've tried.  The best I have heard from Current 93 beats out DCD, but DCD has been somewhat more consistent so I voted for them

love Swans and Dead Can Dance, but my vote goes to Swans.

Didn't know Current 93 and like the posted song, but I love both DCD and Swans a lot and the C93 song is not good enough to draw me away. DCD have more consistency, but the highlights of the Swans discography (particularly the 2010 trilogy) are second to none, and grab my vote.


Edited by Lewian - December 27 2021 at 17:46

All three are hit and miss for me, containing in their discographies the cliché of the good, the bad, and the ugly. On a tangent, I’ve always liked that ugly exists outside good or bad. And when it comes to Swans and Current 93, if not so much DCD, a lot of the ugly can be very, VERY, good!

I'm not (yet) sufficiently familiar with Swans and Current 93, but like what I have heard, including these sample tracks. Dead Can Dance however has always been rather special to me, especially their first period (say first five albums...).

suitkees wrote: I'm not (yet) sufficiently familiar with Swans and Current 93, but like what I have heard, including these sample tracks. Dead Can Dance however has always been rather special to me, especially their first period (say first five albums...).

Dead Can Dance