| Details / Tracklist: |
1.1 1. the Guardian1.2 2. Man-Gun1.3 3. Lurker on the Threshold1.4 4. Bleak Outpost1.5 5. Operate / Art Student1.6 6. Decade of the Worm1.7 7. Hunger (The Hunger Artist)1.8 8. Betrayal in Three Acts |
 | | Description: | Second release on Robert Pollard's new Splendid Research label is a vinyl & CD reissue of a 1984 demo cassette by Children's Crusade, post-punk teenage band of Guided By Voices' Doug Gillard. The Cleveland guitarist went on to record for Scat, Homestead and Restless Records with the bands Death of Samantha, Cobra Verde, My Dad Is Dead, and Gem, before joining GBV (1996-2004), then Nada Surf (2010-2016), then rejoining GBV (2016-present), as well as playing on albums by Richard Buckner, Neko Case and others. 1980s Cleveland was a hotbed for indie rock, following in the Northern Ohio footsteps of Pere Ubu, The Dead Boys, The Styrenes, Mirrors and Devo. "Children's Crusade was a fleeting blotch on the wild, mid-80s Cleveland underground music scene, slowly seeping through like a drop of oil on the uniformly black jeans of that era - noticeable only after it settles, spreads, and you realize it won't come out in the wash."Packaged in a Digipak and includes eight-page booklet with lyrics, photos, and credits
All songs written by Doug Gillard and Fraser Sims
Flippant Music, BMI
Burning Theater Music
Remixed by Doug Gillard & Travis Harrison at Serious Business, New York, NY
Analog to Digital Restoration by Steve Rosenthal, MARS, New York, NY
Originally recorded & engineered by Steve Simonovich
at Star Track Recording, Elyria, Ohio, 1984"Duty-dance With Death" is an intense and thought-provoking CD by the band Children's Crusade, released by the label Splendid. Musically, the album moves in the darker, more atmospheric realms of rock and alternative music, with songs that balance power and vulnerability. The compositions rely on expressive guitars, driving rhythms and a haunting vocal presence, creating an immersive listening experience that feels both intimate and cinematic. Lyrically, "Duty-dance With Death" circles themes such as existential doubt, emotional struggle and the fragile balance between despair and hope, inviting the listener to engage not just with the sound, but with the stories behind it. This is an album that is designed to be heard from start to finish, with an arc that slowly builds tension, releases it in cathartic moments, and then returns to quiet, reflective passages.
Children's Crusade present themselves here as a band with a clear artistic vision and a coherent sound that avoids clichés. Their songwriting emphasizes dynamics: calm, almost whispered passages stand next to eruptive, guitar-driven climaxes, so that no track feels static or predictable. The band's strength lies in their ability to combine catchy melodies with a dense, sometimes almost cinematic sound design, making "Duty-dance With Death" attractive to listeners who appreciate depth and atmosphere rather than disposable hits. Even without chart references, the album fits seamlessly into the tradition of ambitious alternative productions that are made to stand the test of time, and it underlines the band's position as a serious, artistically oriented act.
The CD format underlines the album's character as a complete work. It is ideal for listeners who like to experience music in album form, with coherent sequencing and carefully considered transitions between the tracks. Depending on the edition, the physical release may include printed lyrics and artwork that visually reflects the album's themes of conflict, loss and inner transformation, further strengthening the bond between listener and music.
Splendid, the manufacturer behind this release, is known as a label and distributor that supports artist-driven projects and albums with a strong identity. Rather than focusing solely on mainstream trends, Splendid often places value on distinctive productions that speak to a demanding audience. With "Duty-dance With Death", the company once again underlines its orientation towards high-quality, carefully curated releases that give bands like Children's Crusade the space they need to develop and present their musical vision in a coherent way. | | | No. of tracks: |
8 |
| | Manufacturer No.: |
SR-2CD |
| Product Safety
Responsible Person for the EU:
WVG Medien GmbH
Neumühlen 17, 22763 Hamburg, DE
https://wvg-main.de | |
|
Rock&Pop
107.577
- Beat 219- Bombast Rock 123- Classic Rock 15.384- Glamrock 103- Latin Rock 213- Mainstream Rock 72.528- Rockpop 17.840- Soft Rock/Pop Rock 539- Westcoast 525Songwriter 3.442
![Splendid - Der karierte Ninja 3 [DE-Version, Regio 2/B]](https://www.playthek.co.uk/images/cover/623/916/c5arusjw.j11)
![Camille Rutherford / Pablo Pauly / Charlie Anson / + - Jane Austen & das Chaos in meinem Leben [DE-Version, Regio 2/B]](https://www.playthek.co.uk/images/cover/067/916/c5arus21.j11)
![Camille Rutherford / Pablo Pauly / Charlie Anson / + - Jane Austen & das Chaos in meinem Leben [DE-Version, Regio 2/B]](https://www.playthek.co.uk/images/cover/932/915/c5arurv8.j11)
