Well, unlike most people writing reviews here, I never really cared for Dead Can Dance. I guess I just didn't get it. But I really do like this album. The music is great for relaxing, cooling down after a stressful day in the modern world, taking a break, thinking deeply, reading, or winding down at the end of the day. But it's not shallow or sentimental; it's deep, haunting, and spiritual in the old-fashioned, strong sense of that word. If you enjoy new age music, this is a good CD for you.

Even if you're not a Dead Can Dance fan!

I weep for the loss of the grandeur and majesty that were Dead Can Dance. I weep for the mighty have fallen. That, in essence, is the emotion caused by this cd.

In an effort to fend off what I am certain will be backlashes of the devout Lisa Gerrard followers, let me say this: I absolutely adore Lisa Gerrard and the material she has produced since parting ways with Brendan Perry. However, it is with a degree of adoration that is far below that which I felt (and CONTINUE to feel) for DCD. I know, to an extent, DCD have forever gone and I should just get over it. Even Brendan is sounding more like Tim Buckley than Brendan Perry. And, even Brendan's stuff with Elijah's Mantle is far inferior to even DCD material.

But, I cannot forget what once was and anytime I play either of the three best recordings ever made (DCD's, "Within the Realm of a Dying Sun," "Serpent's Egg" and "Aeon," respectively), I am transported back to what DCD were(and, truthfully, is) all about.

This recording is more similar to anything you'd find being played on NPR or some "Pure Moods" variant. It has a few moments of clarity and resolve, but beyond those, it falls flat on its face. This is a terribly crushing thing for me to have to admit too. So, I say it with every ounce of respect and sense of defeat. Lisa...you are so much better than this and capable of such far greater work.

But, and the big "but," Brendan always was the Yin to Lisa's Yang. They need(ed) each other and balance each other and apart....apart they will never amount to the totality they achieved.

This is wordy, verbose and probably quite obtuse in terms of a "review" of this cd. Please forgive me though. I have just listened to "Within the Realm..." in its entirety and have a tremendous sense of longing and bereft-ness (ok, I made up a word). You may notice that most of the ecstatic reviewers are new-comers to the whole DCD family (and its descendant variants). That comes as a result of having no point of reference by which to judge the present work. If it is the first you have heard of this, I can see how one would do cartwheels over this. If however, you spent the better part of the 80's and 90's shelling out top-dollar for 4-AD import prices (long before Ivo sold out to Warner Brothers), you know what I mean.

I give this three stars solely because it is Lisa Gerrard and, hey, that counts for something.

Lisa has done it once again !Her vocal chords are a gift to humanity . She once again proves that she can keep the spirit of DCD alive .

I have a true passion for Middle-Eastern music . This album manages to give the listener a feeling of "travelling" on magic carpets with Lisa's voice as a guide .

Alongside Lisa and Azam Ali , this is some of the best middle eastern vocal work the past 2 years . This CD will play on my CD for a LONG time .

I only wish record companies would start to release music like this on SACD or DVD-A !

How this composition has failed to make it big in the US is beyond me. While composers like Loreena and Enya sell by the truckful, true musicians like Lisa Gerrard are hardly heard of at all. Lisa was once part of Dead Can Dance, a group that had dozens of unforgettable albums before disbanding.

'Duality' opens wonderfully, with what I would call second to only the opening witnessed on 'The Mystic's Dream' by Loreena. The track in question is 'Shadow Magnet' a rather long but ultimately fruitful song that stays with you long after you've listened to it. So is 'Tempest' - a soaring, absolutely enthralling track, made only more beautiful by Lisa's stunning vocals.

For all those who buy 'Duality' and expect to find lyrics to the songs, don't bother looking. The beauty of Lisa's work, both here and in her previous 'The Mirror Pool', is that she chooses to sing in languages not easily accessible (such as primitive Polynesian) and most often gives that up in favor of phonetic chanting. This is especially enchanting as Lisa shows us that music is indeed wordless, and can remain so even when a vocal is in full effect. I cant think of a single musician who could manage to pull this off through the course of an entire album.

Make Lisa's 'Duality' a priority on your next music list. Chances are, you wont at all be disappointed. If you liked Loreena, you'll love Gerrard's work, which is at once more experimental, and definitely more accomplished. While Lisa will perhaps never become a household name, works such as 'Duality' deserve more recognition. Any contemporary New Age performer's works pale in the face of this remarkable recording. I listened to this album, and then played most of Enya's works just to see what the most striking difference was, and it turned out that Lisa scored higher on every level : musically, vocally, and technically. The production value on this CD is flawless, and certainly worth referring to.

All in all, a splendid album, and the only thing in the last few years that has really caught my attention (I'm rather picky). I can't recommend this enough.

Ten stars, if possible.

I've been an obsessed fan of Dead Can Dance since about 1984. Lisa Gerrard's voice is so beautiful that she has brought me to tears on several occasions. This album is wonderful. My favorite is Sacrifice, which is full of so much emotion, and is so moving, it puts little goose bumps on my arms. The Unfolding and The Comforter are also amazing. So is the whole album. It's a must have for anyone who enjoys beautiful music. I look forward to another colaboration by Lisa and Pieter. Duality fits them perfectly.