Description
Prints of Darkness is the debut album by the American alternative rock band Dead Artist Syndrome (a.k.a. Brian Healy, 1959-2020, known as the Godfather of Christian goth), independently released on Public Records in 1990, and re-issued on Blonde Vinyl Records the following year, distributed by Spectra. The album was recorded by Brad Jeffers, Dave Hackbarth, and Ojo Taylor, as well as Scott Macklin (tracks 2 to 5), at Neverland Studios in Los Alamitos and Whitefield Studios in Santa Ana, California; with Brian Healy producing. Mixed by Healy, Ojo Taylor, and Thom Roy.
Dead Artist Syndrome is a gothic rock band formed in 1989 in Orange County, California. The group consists of singer-songwriter Brian Healy and a rotating cast of side men. The debut effort, Prints of Darkness, features Brian Healy on lead vocals, backed by Gym Nicholson and Ojo Taylor of Undercover (appearing courtesy of Broken Records) and Michael Knott and Michael Sauerbrey of L.S.U. (appearing courtesy of Blonde Vinyl Records), among others.
[Michael Delaney, Harvest Rock Syndicate, Volume 5 – Issue 2]
Once in a while a new artist emerges on the independent scene, an artist that captures the imagination because the sound and lyrical thrust snap to a different command. Dead Artist Syndrome happens to be one of those bands that causes one to jump to attention, drop whatever you are doing and harken to the music and the words. DAS is essentially Brian Healy, with ample assistance from friends Gym Nicholson, Ojo Taylor, Michael Knott and Mike Saurerbrey.
Musically, the songs possess a kinship to that of Joy Division, Sisters of Mercy or New Order. Except for the opening number, «Christmas», which is a fine rocker, all the other tunes are more somber and dark in texture, which greatly assists in the overall funereal bleakness that permeates the words, at least on a surface reading.
Some will dismiss DAS as being too dark to be Christian. A better view is that Healy, in his personal vision, is being more realistic, giving vent to feelings and thoughts that all people experience sooner or later. «Christmas» establishes the tone of one who, while believing he can never fall from grace, nevertheless, finds himself celebrating Christmas outside of God’s fellowship. «Hope», finds the same voice wondering if there is anyone “up there” to hear his cry of confusion. In this state, he asks “Is anyone there to reach me?” This pivotal question finds answer in the ninth and final song, entitled «Reach». Here the culmination of the inquiring and searching bears a joyful fruit as the voice tells us to “Reach up your hands/ Let him touch you… / Let him heal you… / Let him love you.”
These three songs form a triangle within which the other six are housed, offering images and insights that are essential to a deeper understanding of Healy’s vision. «Amy» depicts a platonic relationship that has turned to love for only one of the two involved. «Think of Me» deals with lost love and «Vision» chastises those “spiritual” people who cause division and are “lost in religion.”
In two songs, the word “dance” becomes a metaphor for the relationship between singer and God. The first, «Dancing Without Touching», offers the view of a society afraid of commitment to a partner, to a permanent relationship. On a second level, that same image is one of too many who refuse to commit to God. In «Dance With Me», the voice has broken and the dance has been consumated with the words “If you take me hand/ I’ll be yours forever.” Probably the most stunning song on the disc is «Red». Working on at least two levels, it is a song about a man whose wife has deserted him. Each time he opens the closet and views the faded wedding gown, he screams “White dress makes me see red.” On a more symbolic level, the gown represents the bride of Christ and the voice is that of Christ, who mourns for all those who have abandoned him to the more temporal tastes of the flesh.
Certainly not the most easily digested set of songs on the music racks, but for those who like to feel and experience what is heard, ‘Prints of Darkness’ will keep you reeling for many an hour. (Spring Arbor numbers: Cassette #0001390007. Compact disc # 0001391003) [Dan Kennedy, CCM, December 1990]
CD tracklist:
01. Christmas – 3:36
02. Amy – 3:40
03. Dancing Without Touching – 3:25
04. Vision – 3:35
05. Hope – 4:34
06. Dance With Me – 4:03
07. Think Of Me – 3:15
08. Red – 3:39
09. Reach – 3:30
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and CD by Public Records. Re-issued in 2003 as a 13th Anniversary Edition by BCM Music, with three bonus songs (“Surrender”, “Rich Girl” and “Christmas” [live with 77’s]). Prints Of Darkness (2018 Deluxe Remaster) was released by Lo-Fidelity Records in November 2018 on both CD (featuring several bonus tracks from the Prints Of Darkness era) and black & transparent haze 180g 12-inch vinyl LP. Available at Bandcamp: https://deadartistsyndrome.bandcamp.com/album/prints-of-darkness-2018-deluxe-remaster
Prints Of Darkness: 2018 Deluxe Remaster, Lo-Fidelity Records 2018, black & transparent haze 180g 12-inch vinyl LP.
Prints Of Darkness: 2018 Deluxe Remaster, Lo-Fidelity Records 2018, CD featuring several bonus tracks from the Prints Of Darkness era.
Dead Artist Syndrome feat. Brian Healy
“Christmas”, Live at Cornerstone 1991.
CREDITS. Produced by Brian Healy for The Points. Track 2 to 5 recorded at Whitefield Studios by Scott Macklin. Track 1 and 6 to 9 recorded at Neverland Studios by Ojo Taylor, Dave Hackbarth, and Brad Jeffers. Mixed at Neverland Studios by Brian Healy, Ojo Taylor, and Thom Roy. Executive Producer: Thom Roy.
Musicians: Brian Healy (Vocals), Jeff Sheets (Keyboards – tracks: 2, 3, 5), Ojo Taylor (Keyboards – tracks: 1, 6 to 9), Whitney Quinn (Synclavier – tracks: 2 to 5), Gym Nicholson (Guitar – tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6 to 8), Chris Harvey (Acoustic and Rhythm Guitar – tracks: 3, 5), Michael Knott (Bass and Acoustic Guitar – tracks: 2 to 5), Michael Saurerbrey (Bass and Keyboards, tracks: 3 to 5). Backing Vocals on track 9: Annica Svensson, Brian Miller, Camille Miller, Roger Mantell.
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