Whereas Daniel Lanois's SHINE (2003) came a full decade after its predecessor, BELLADONNA follows Lanois's previous offering by only two years, marking a notable increase in the renowned producer/guitarist's solo activity. While SHINE featured vocal turns by frequent collaborators Bono and Emmylou Harris, this instrumental outing is built on the core of Lanois, drummer Brian Blade, and bassist Daryl Johnson. This trio has played together on so many occasions that they exhibit a musical telepathy evident in only the most seasoned ensembles. Here they use this connection to create gentle melodies that border on ambient territory, with an atmosphere that conjures up the gorgeous minimalism of desert landscapes. Throughout BELLADONNA, Lanois's delicate, nuanced guitar lines are at the forefront, reinforcing why he's not only a revered producer but a formidable solo artist as well.

What the critics say...

Mojo (p.110) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[With] the echoing, rippling 'The Deadly Nightshade' and the eerie 'Telco', where electronics drift through a simple melody played by Lanois and pianist Brad Mehldau."