Laraaji – “Celestial Music 1978-2011” – [All Saints]

Thurston Hunger   5/6/2015   A Library, CD

Will new age be the newest (revitalized) rage? Claimed from
the scrap heap and bargain bins of sonic history, (like
heavy metal and disco recently)? There are some nuggets
including the mighty Laraaji (who already had one KFJC
revival with Audio Active long ago! A track from that is
on here). Laraaji works autoharp zones and the dulcet realms
of dulcimer, amid some of the softest serve synth you’ll
ever taste. Feather flecked shimmer strings. “Sun Zither”
a shining example invoking both the nearest star and maybe
Sonny Blount, pretty trippy crescedo after sliding crescendo,
fading away in a more twangy state of near gamelan. “Unicorns
in Paradise” is almost Jean-Michel Jarre-ing. Thumbs up to
“Kalimba” of course, more plunky thank plinky. “Sol” is about
as rough as it gets with its excerpted phone vox and drag
bounce of strings. The second disk is defintely spacier
joint jams with Bill Laswell and the Blues Control dizzy
closing epic. Liner notes are amazing, comedy beginnings and
war zone travels with Brian Eno included and a Putney Swope
mention! “Vision Song Suite” stretches the limits of my
unevolved consciousness, chanting Om Shanti mantras of
self-help viz-a-viz “your underlying sense of okay, your
underlying source of power” but I could see DJ’s tweaking
that and all other tracks.
-Thurston Hunger