Brian Eno is MORE DARK THAN SHARK

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Rip It Up NOVEMBER 1989 - by Andrew Dubber

DANIEL LANOIS: ACADIE

I remember a time not too far in the past when my friends were into either staunch rock (e.g. U2) or intellectual ambient music courtesy of Brian Eno, but never both. Then, somewhere in the mid-'80s, came the big fusion - blame (or thank) The Unforgettable Fire, produced by Brian Eno with Daniel Lanois.

The French-Canadian guitarist Lanois has worked behind the scenes with U2, The Neville Brothers and Robbie Robertson among others. Now the stars return the favour for Lanois' solo album, making for an impressive guest list on the inner sleeve.

The songwriting is often phenomenal, The Maker being Best All Round Greatest Everything song of 1989. Brian Eno comes up with his best soundscapes since Apollo and Aaron Neville even outdoes Yellow Moon vocally.

So how could Acadie fail? Lanois does try to get maybe a bit too rootsy with his French-Canadian tobacco pickers work song O Marie and Where The Hawkwind Kills is just a little too much of an approving nod in the direction of U2 to be cred in 1989. Then again, they're still the fourth best band in the world. Put Acadie in the Top 5 albums of the year.