Pop Quiz: Daniel Lanois

Pop Quiz: Daniel Lanois

Aidin Vaziri | Until the Neptunes came along, Daniel Lanois was the must-have producer for critically acclaimed, bazillion-selling albums. Just ask U2, Peter Gabriel and Bob Dylan, or anyone else with as many mansions as gray hairs. But he doesn't just twiddle knobs -- Lanois has been putting out beautifully crafted solo albums since 1989, when he released his debut, "Acadie." His latest, "Belladonna," is an all-instrumental disc reminiscent of his delicate, atmospheric work with Brian Eno.

Daniel Lanois
Q: You have Bono, Bob Dylan and Emmylou Harris in your phone book. Why would you make an instrumental album?
A: I've always loved my Miles Davis records. I still listen to Santo and Johnny. I like instrumental music. It holds a special place. It can very easily transport a listener, and it's just a lovely thing to have out there.
Q: What makes good instrumental music? I honestly don't know.
A: Its capacity to raise the spirit, to take somebody on a journey, to allow somebody to get out of their usual mood and be brought to a special place.
Q: Can't you just take pills for that?
A: I was hoping to take people on a psychedelic journey without the drugs. On a good night, I hope "Belladonna" will reach that place. That's really the driving force, in the name of quality and having work out there that will last a long time.
Q: How do I know I'm not being tricked into listening to New Age music?
A: Well, you know, that's a bit of a shame because an awful lot of it is massage music, so it kind of gives a lot of instrumental music a bad name. But I like to think I have enough of a reputation, having done those records with Eno, and that my body of work is strong enough, that people will associate me with some sort of quality.