Ambient fans must have had a shock when the needle dropped on
Laraaji's
Brian Eno-produced debut,
Day of Radiance -- instead of the usual relaxing sounds came the echoing ricochets on the modified hammer dulcimer-like instrument that the musician plays. On this,
Laraaji's 1987 album, he sounds more like
Eno once they're apart.
Essence/Universe is two side-long pieces that make up a whole -- long, liquid passages of treated zither -- sounding very close to
Eno's
On Land or
Thursday Afternoon. The whole album glows orange and blue and makes for some pleasant background listening. ~ Ted Mills