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Ceremony
Beggars Banquet, 1991
Produced by Richie Zito, with Billy Duffy & Ian Astbury
Available from Amazon.com (click for RealAudio clips)
Ian Astbury, vocals
Billy Duffy, guitars
Charley Drayton, bass (except "Indian")
Mickey Currey, drums (except "Indian")
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The most well-rounded of all Cult albums to date, Ceremony combines elements of each earlier album in a cohesive blend of solid hard driving rock, Indian themes and intense emotion. Although reports of ongoing tension between Astbury and Duffy were prevalent at the time, their musical partnership seems stronger than ever in this album. Everything on it works.
Wild Hearted Son is one of their all-time best songs overall, bringing back the "me against the world" theme of She Sells Sanctuary, it's musically as strong as the Sonic Temple hits. If and Indian are soft and gentle, and White has the vibe of something from Love but with a fuller and more complete sound. Heart of Soul, Sweet Salvation and Bangkok Rain are all more introspective than heard before, but delivered with full power. Earth Mofo and Full Tilt wouldn't seem out of place on Electric -- in fact, along with "Fire Woman", they're the only post-Electric songs included on the legendary Live at the Marquee album recorded in 1991.
If you want to introduce someone to the Cult, this would be the CD to give them. There's something for everyone on it, and wide-open doors leading to their earlier albums.
Earth, Soul, Rock n' Roll
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1
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Ceremony
Benmont Tench, organ
Richie Zito, additional keyboards
Ian Astbury & Tommy Funderburk, backing vocals
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2
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Wild Hearted Son
Richie Zito, keyboards
Ian Astbury & Tommy Funderburk, backing vocals
Excerpt from "The Grass Dance" performed by the American Indian Dance Theatre
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3
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Earth Mofo
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4
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White
Benmont Tench, melotron
Richie Zito, additional keyboards
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5
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If
Benmont Tench, piano
Scott Thurston, synthesizer & additional piano
Ian Astbury & Tommy Funderburk, backing vocals
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6
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Full Tilt
Ian Astbury & Tommy Funderburk, backing vocals
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7
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Heart of Soul
Benmont Tench, organ
Tommy Funderburk, backing vocals
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8
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Bangkok Rain
Ian Astbury & Tommy Funderburk, backing vocals
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9
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Indian
Suzy Katiyama, cello
Alex Acuña, percussion
Tommy Funderburk, backing vocals
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10
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Sweet Salvation
Benmont Tench, organ
Richie Zito, harmonium
Tommy Funderburk, Mona Lisa, Donny Gerrard & Yvonne St. James, backing vocals
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11
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Wonderland
Richie Zito, keyboards
Alex Acuña, percussion
Ian Astbury & Tommy Funderburk, backing vocals
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All tracks composed by Astbury/Duffy
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Divine intervention in this decaying world
While the hip young dude stood passionately
Succumbing to the he dog sound
Of the mystifying beat combo
That breaks down your doors
Gonna take you high now
Earth god mother -- He dog brother
Wonderland
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