Dead Lovers' Sarabande (Face Two)

"Dead Lovers' Sarabande" (Face Two) is the title of Darkwave band Sopor Aeternus & The Ensemble of Shadows' sixth album. It was released in 1999. "Dead Lovers' Sarabande" as a whole is a transitory death suite dealing with euthanasia, homoerotic necrophilia, decay and loneliness. The storyline of (Face Two) is as scattered as that of (Face One), but seems to focus more on the mourning of the protagonist's lover and on being utterly alone, rather than spending time in dreams and in visions. The protagonist concludes by admitting that "it's easier to love the dead" and that s/he would truly be alone if love was everything, rather than death or loneliness. The music is a series of funeral dirges and chamber pieces, with the instrumental focus on (Face Two) shifting from strings to brass.

"Dead Lovers' Sarabande" (Face Two), like (Face One), was released in multiple formats. A double-LP edition (with double-picture-vinyl records) of 500 copies was released, along with an A5-sized CD box edition of 3000 copies. In 2004, "Dead Lovers' Sarabande" (Face Two) was re-released on CD with newly packaged artwork, including a slightly altered cover.