Departum

Departum, released in 2010, represents a collaborative effort between Lisa Gerrard and Marcello De Francisci. While Gerrard is widely recognized for her work with Dead Can Dance and her Academy Award-nominated film scores, Departum leans heavily into the 'ethereal wave' and 'neoclassical' territories she helped pioneer. The album consists of 19 tracks, many of which are short, atmospheric vignettes that contribute to a larger, cohesive narrative arc of spiritual departure and return. Musically, it bridges the gap between her purely ambient solo work and her more structured cinematic compositions. The use of the yangqin (Chinese hammered dulcimer) provides a metallic, percussive counterpoint to the sweeping synth pads and Gerrard's operatic, non-lexical vocals. Critically, the album is viewed as a quintessential example of her 'inner journey' style, favored by fans of darkwave and modern classical for its ability to evoke profound emotional states without the use of recognizable language.