Customer Reviews

Divination: Sacrifice

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Those who are familiar with the Divination series (Ambient Dub Vol. 1, Dead Slow, Distill, even Akasha) - this is nothing like them. No beats; no dub bass; no dark future landscapes; also, just two artists: Laswell and Laraaji.

Once you get over those expectations, this is a masterpiece. The bright, uplifting tones of Laraaji's electric zither are perfectly counterbalanced by an undertow of bass and gliding drones plus ambience from Laswell - like having your feet on the earth and your head among the stars.

These low drones occasionally add tension or darkness, but again, not of the sinister variety you may be used to from other Divination collaborators such as Mick Harris or Paul Shutze. They also keep it out of the syrupy new age terrritory some might fear. Some of the pieces remind one of the more drifting cuts on Laswell's Invisible Design.

As alluded in the title, this is one of our favorite end-of-day unwind-before-going-to-sleep CDs.

Marking yet another development in the musical path of producer Bill Laswell (acclaimed for the recent remix projects Dreams of Freedon: Ambient Translations of Bob Marley in Dub and Panthalassa: The Music of Miles Davis 1969-1974), Sacrifice is one of the first two releases of the new Meta Records, a label dedicated to spiritually oriented music and spoken-word recordings. It comprises four extended tracks of slowly unfolding ambient sounds that range from deep subterranean moans to sparkling night-sky twinkles. The latter, on the 16-minute pieces "Reflection" and "Still," are provided by the chiming electric 36-string zither of ambient pioneer Laraaji, advocate and teacher of "soundhealing" and laughter meditation; the former by Laswell's msterful manipulations of electronics and distinctive bass playing. Some of the aural atmospherics stretch out like sci-fi soundtracks, others are more abstract in their spacious textures, but none limit themselves to soothing New Age stereotypes, and all reward deep listening.

warning!warning! attention deficit disorder impared individuals keep away!you'll get bored by the onslaught of trippy instrumentals and hazy mindscapes this awesome cd delivers!(on the other hand,trippers-buy 'er up right quick now-ya hear?!)

Amyone who calls them self a feal fan of laswells music can not say that this isnt one of the more excellent laswell albums. I own over 150 albums that laswell is featured in or is directelly responsible for, and im not a real ambient fan, i own all the dark side of the moog's and their awesome but not my favorite and outland 1 and 2 are extremelly ambient but not my favorite. And the atom heart/ tetsu inoue stuff is cool. I sceem to groove more to the dub/jazz fussion and eastern stuff. And i still love this album. Its almost like invisible design but with more room to breath and more soothing and calming results. Laraaji is a absolute master of the zither. I have some catholic nuns playing the zither and that was the most spectacular thing ive heard until laraaji. The sound of god radiating through time and space. Please dont be afraid to delve into this portal of blissfull divination. If you want to hear more from laraaji he has a solo title called flow goes the universe which is awesome, micheal brook and roger eno join the sound pool. He has a sond with laswell on asana 3 the last song samadhi state, which is a jazz dub song with laraaji soloing for the first half the song then pharoah sanders for the remainder on sax. he is featured on the ambient3 album with brian eno, thats not the same as this here he plays a hammer dulcimer their not quite the same effect but cool. And works with his brother roger eno on islands a live album. He also is featured on a couple of audio active cds, they are an asian dub group who works with english dub guru and producer for dub syndicate and african headcharge many others. so if you are ready take the time and give it your own opinion.

i heard a cool song on the CBC by divination, hopeing it would be on this cd, well it wasnt. there is nothing worth listening to on this cd. no drums, no cool bass lines, just crap. mr laswell, please bring back TERROR AGAINST TERROR!!