Daniel Lanois and the beauty of Wynona
It's been years and years since rock music was still important and had great relevance. Artists were not pop bunnies who sang with computer voices, but stars with guitars, poets, explainers of the world.
Today it`s "For The Beauty Of Wynona" by Daniel Lanois on the turntables.
He was the magician who assisted the masterpieces of colleagues like U2 and Peter Gabriel and gave them the polish that made them great works of art. Daniel Lanois was also always on the lookout for magical moments, spiritual moods and new sounds. His own album "Acadie" was a beginning more than 30 years ago, and the follow-up "For the Beauty of Wynona" showed what Lanois can do.
The French-Canadian folklore of "The Collection Of Marie Claire" brings to mind the 1993 record premiere of "Monsieur Dan". And the slow song “Death Of A Train” would also have fit into the repertoire of the predecessor. But on the work with the mercilessly naked woman on the title, Lanois had not only familiar sounds but also a number of surprises in store. Is it about Wynona Ryder? Or not?
There's a recurring joke among rock bands from the '90s onwards that involves calling something Winona, a song, an album, or even a band... all in honor of independent rock's muse, Winona Rider. There's even a punk band called The Winona Riders! And in the midst of this turmoil, Canadian mega-producer Daniel Lanois released an album in 1993 called For The Beauty Of Winona, Por La Belleza de Winona. And nobody believes that it was because of this Winona, our Winona, because the guy was in a different place, he wasn't part of the environment.
The thoroughbred musician showed himself from previously unknown sides several times. In "Brother L.A.", for example, he demonstrates his qualities as a rock shouter for the first time. And in "Wynona" he makes people sit up and take notice with psycho-folk in a flower power guise - unusual, but no less fascinating than the tones typical of the Canadian. The fact that Lanois is unabashed about breaking new ground once again marks him out as a courageous musician. As someone who many rightly consider to be one of the top creative people.
Lanois produced U2's "Achtung Baby" in 1991 and "Peter Gabriel" in 1992. But his style as a composer and singer is much less experimental, his songs are beautiful and slow songs that gradually captivate you, without any flashy means. “For The Beauty Of Winona” is a very atmospheric and nocturnal album, ideal for a night of reflection over a bottle of whiskey.