Daniel Lanois Creates a Celestial Statement

As a producer, artist, sideman and songwriter, Daniel Lanois has followed a multitiered path. His list of his past associates alone — Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Neil Young, U2, and Brian Eno among them — speaks to his credence and versatility. Best known as a master of ambiance and intrigue, his work often finds him veering into areas eerily reminiscent of the atonal soundscapes purveyed by such avant-garde classical composers as Steve Reich and Terry Riley. Add to that eclectic mix, Goodbye To Language, a collection of unobtrusive soundscapes that drift along like a quiet haze through the ethos. Its beauty and sheer effervescence create a tranquility all its own, but as the title suggests, these are more like ethereal entities rather than what would generally think of as actual songs. The tracks are all given names — “Low Sudden,” “Time On,” “Deconstruction,” “Suspended” and so forth — but those searching for something to hang a hook on best look elsewhere. One passage segues seamlessly into another without creating any distinction between one composition and another. Fans of Reich and Riley will likely find plenty of fascination to absorb their interest, but those who favor compact melodies may lament Lanois’ further move away from traditional tunes. Furtive and yet fascinating, much like something akin to the soundtrack to a celestial slide show at the local planetarium, Goodbye To Language is best considered soothing escapist fare.