Celestial Music 1978 - 2011

Discovered playing autoharp in New York City's Washington Square by Brian Eno, Laraaji is best known for his collaboration with Eno on 1980’s classic Ambient 3: Day of Radiance. Laraaji went on to become an ambient music, new age, and electronic music pioneer who has released nearly 50 albums on his own. Issued as part of Eno’s 2013 relaunch of his co-owned All Saints Records, Celestial Music features rare self-released early recordings of Laraaji on autoharp, guitar, keyboards, and zither, as well as his more commercial collaborations with such notables as Eno, Bill Laswell, and Michael Brook. The tape experiments range from the Sun Ra electric piano of “Eternity or Bust” to the percussive “Lotus Collage” and the experimental echo and delay of “I Am Ocean.” Of the previously released commercial material, the trip-hop–like “Laraajingle” and the angelic “Space Choir” are both memorable. Those looking for something more electric can turn to “Quiet Space Pt. 2” or “Astral Jam,” which sounds like Can's prog rock. It's a nice, well-edited collection for the curious.