Dead Can Dance release ‘The Cicadas’ single via Bandcamp
Dead Can Dance release “The Cicadas,” a Brendan Perry-written instrumental, on Bandcamp on July 15, 2026, as part of their 2026 monthly single series.
Dead Can Dance released “The Cicadas” on July 15, 2026, exclusively through Bandcamp. The instrumental piece is the latest entry in the Dead Can Dance‘s ongoing series of Bandcamp-only monthly releases, following “Mon Amour Sauvage,” “Death Cults,” “Mnemosyne” and “Our Day Will Come” earlier this year.
Written by Brendan Perry, “The Cicadas” draws on Plato’s “Phaedrus” and the ancient Greek myth in which humans so enchanted by music that the Muses transformed them into eternal singers. Perry describes the piece as a reflection on music, wisdom and the pursuit of knowledge.
The track was recorded and mixed at Temenos Studio in Greece. It features Perry alongside David Kuckhermann on bendir and riq, Yannis Pantazis on aulos, and the Rhodope Women’s Ensemble.
“The Cicadas” is an instrumental piece and carries no separate video release. It is available now as a name-your-price digital download on Bandcamp.
About Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance formed in Melbourne, Australia, in 1981, founded by Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard. The duo relocated to London in 1982 and signed to 4AD, releasing a self-titled debut album in 1984. Across the following decade, the band built a catalogue that combined gothic rock, world music and neoclassical composition, including “Spleen and Ideal” (1985), “Within the Realm of a Dying Sun” (1987), “The Serpent’s Egg” (1988), “Aion” (1990), “Into the Labyrinth” (1993) and “Spiritchaser” (1996). The band disbanded in 1998 before reuniting for the album “Anastasis” in 2012 and touring intermittently in the years since, including the 2018 album “Dionysus.”
Perry has continued to release music under the Dead Can Dance banner and through related projects. Side-Line has previously covered a solo single from bandmate Jules Maxwell featuring Polly Scattergood, and a live video of Lisa Gerrard and Maxwell performing “Noyalain (Burn)” from a 2022 concert recording. “The Cicadas” continues Dead Can Dance’s current run of standalone Bandcamp singles, released on a roughly monthly schedule through 2026.
For almost 15 years I’ve been writing about music, interviewing artists and reviewing releases for Peek-A-Boo Magazine. Recently, I also launched my own WordPress website, where I continue to share interviews, reviews and news from the underground scene. The darker side of music has been part of my life for more than 30 years, with a passion for everything from ’80s synthpop and New Wave to EBM, Futurepop and dark electronic music in general. Also Metal and Rock is part of my world. Away from the scene, I work in a public library, where books are part of my everyday life. I enjoy both fiction and non-fiction, especially books on politics, religion, health and travel. I’m also a fan of thrillers and horror films. When I’m not listening to music or reading, you’ll usually find me exploring nature, enjoying a good sauna, experimenting with vegan cooking, or travelling to my second home, Finland. I’ve always believed the underground has the best stories. My job is simply to help tell them
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