Ambient 3: Day of Radiance
Original cover. Certain CD pressings opt for a zoomed-in portion of the cover art.
Studio album by
Laraaji
ReleasedAugust 1980[1]
Genre
Length49:00
LabelEditions EG
ProducerBrian Eno
Laraaji chronology
Celestial Vibrations
(1978)		 Ambient 3: Day of Radiance
(1980)		 I Am Ocean
(1981)
Brian Eno chronology
Fourth World, Vol. 1: Possible Musics
(1980)		 Ambient 3: Day of Radiance
(1980)		 My Life in the Bush of Ghosts
(1981)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Louder than War8/10[3]
Record Collector[4]
Sputnikmusic4/5[5]
Tom Hull – on the WebB+[6]

Ambient 3: Day of Radiance (1980) is an album by the American ambient musician Laraaji (alias Edward Larry Gordon), which was produced by Brian Eno.

Overview

This album is the third entry of Eno’s Ambient series, which began in 1978 with Music for Airports, and was preceded by The Plateaux of Mirror. The series ended with On Land.

Compared to the rest of the series, Day of Radiance features very little in the way of electronics. Laraaji uses a variety of acoustic stringed instruments such as a hammered dulcimer and 36-stringed open-tuned zither.

Content

The first three tracks are variations on a theme named "The Dance", and are delivered in a fast, hypnotic, Gamelan-like, rhythmic pace on a hammered dulcimer. Eno's input is not only in the role of producer; he also adds many creative touches to the natural instrument-sounds. In particular, he "layers" the tracks, after which he applies various effects to the point at which the dulcimer almost sounds like other instruments.

These processes are particularly noticeable on the last of the "Dance" pieces. The simple practice of slowing the tape down creates resonances that are deep, and distorted in places.

The final two tracks ("Meditation 1 & 2") are different; more in keeping with the "ambient" style featured on the rest of the series. These are slow, meandering beatless compositions performed on the zither, with the dulcimer adding the odd highlight. Eno's tactic in these two pieces is mainly to electronically highlight the zither's naturally long decay-rate, creating a highly ethereal sound.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Laraaji.

Side one

  1. "The Dance #1" – 9:06
  2. "The Dance #2" – 9:39
  3. "The Dance #3" – 3:15

Side two

  1. "Meditation #1" – 18:42
  2. "Meditation #2" – 7:50

Personnel and instruments

  • Cover art and production – Brian Eno
  • Music – Laraaji
  • Instruments – treated and amplified zither; hammered dulcimer

Versions

Country Label Cat. No. Media Release Date
UK Ambient/EG Records EGAMB 003 LP 1980
US EG Records EGS 203 LP 1980
US Caroline 1573 CD ?
US EG Records EGED/EEGCD-19 LP & CD 1987 & 1995

References

  1. ↑ "From the Record Crate: Laraaji - "Ambient 3: Day of Radiance" (1980) | the Young Folks". 12 June 2018.
  2. ↑ Brian Olewnick. "Laraaji Ambient 3: Day of Radiance". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-12-12.
  3. ↑ Paul Scott-Bates (November 6, 2015). "Laraaji: Ambient 3 Day Of Radiance – album review". Louder Than War. Retrieved 2016-12-12.
  4. ↑ Paul Bowler. "LARAAJI - AMBIENT 3: DAY OF RADIANCE (PRODUCED BY BRIAN ENO)". Record Collector. Retrieved 2015-12-12.
  5. ↑ Kuettel, Benjamin. "Laraaji - Ambient 3: Day of Radiance". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  6. ↑ Hull, Tom (November 12, 2023). "Grade List: Laraaji". Tom Hull – on the Web. Retrieved November 12, 2023.
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