You don’t always hear about Daniel Lanois, but when I do, my ears always perk up. He has a rich history of recording that not includes his work with Brian Eno, but also includes his own solo albums, some of which are essential classics. The first is his brilliant debut solo effort from 1989 called Acadie, where he adopts a more folkish traditional style, different from his electronic ambient work. His other is the collaborative work on Eno’s 1983 set, Apollo: Atmospheres and Soundtracks. Since the issue of Acadie, Daniel Lanois has released more than fifteen solo works that include the soundtrack for Sling Blade.
Acadie has many stunning tracks. Enjoy “Still Water”, the opening track from that album in the video included below:
Of course, it goes without saying that Daniel Lanois (pronounced LaneWah) and his work with U2 on some of their most vibrant works (The Unforgettable Fire, The Joshua Tree, Achtung Baby, All That You Can’t Leave Behind). He also helped produce albums by Peter Gabriel (US, SO, Birdy), Bob Dylan (Oh Mercy, Time Out Of Mind), Willie Nelson, The Killers, and a host of other notable albums.
On September 9, Daniel Lanois returns with a new album, Goodbye To Language. It’s collaborated on with Rocco Deluca, who used to be with The Burden. Goodbye To Language is a return to ambient music, but with a twist. On the album, Lanois records using pedal steel guitar, while Deluca plays lap steel. The instruments are blended with a “sonic futurism” that helps evolve the expanding world of ambient music. It may not be the kind of album that many of his previous sets were. But it’s still classic Lanois!