Dead Can Dance

It's early sunday morning, around 2 AM, and the year is 1985. I am 17 and living in my 1 bedroom apartment that I share with my best friend Marsha, which is 2 blocks from Wrigley Field. I keep an empty tape sitting my my tape deck, just in case I want to record a song off the radio. I sleep with the music on, for reasons unknown.
My eyes open fiercly, with purpose, because the music playing is capturing my attention so profoundly. I scramble out from under the covers to hit the record button on my stereo. I get 1/2 of one song and to my luck, the entire 2nd song. WNUR is playing sets of 2 that night. Unfortunately, the DJ doesnt list the songs playing, so I have no idea who created this beautiful music I just heard.
Thats ok, I will just figure it out tomorrow, I tell myself. Well, 3 weeks later and I still cant find the artist. I am growing impatient and anxious, because I really want to know who does this music that I seem to play every day. I at least want the full song, instead of my 1/2 taped version. I ask everyone I know if they know who it is. I play them the tape, and no one knows. ARRGH! another month goes by and I am about to give up. I am talking with my firend Dion who I havent seen in a while. I decide to play her the tape, since we have similar interests in music, hoping she might know. She listens, and responds "well, it sounds like the Cockteau Twins, or Dead Can Dance" I ponder, mmmmm, I know its NOT the Cockteau Twins, so I decide I am going straight to the record store to see about this Dead Can Dance option.
I arrive at Wax Trax records later that day in search of Dead Can Dance. I find an album, (yes, vinyl, it is 1986 after all) Within the Realm of a Dying Sun. I decide to buy it, knowing that even if it doesnt have the song I have heard on the radio, if it's the same band, I will probably like it anyway. Racing home, anticipating my find, I have butterflies inside.
I start to play the album, and THIS IS IT. it's the one, I am so happy and excited, I can hardly contain it. Every song on the album is excellent. I have fallen in love with this band!
That was the story of how I first experienced Dead Can Dance. Almost 20 years later, they are still one of my favorite artists.
Dead Can Dance was founded by Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard. both have gone on to do solo projects, and are back this year for a tour. Not many artists move me like they have, and they have spoken my language for many years.