Daniel Lanois was one of the most important and influential producers in the world in the '80s and '90s, lending his atmospheric, reverb-heavy sound to classic albums such as U2's "The Joshua Tree," Peter Gabriel's "So," Bob Dylan's "Time Out of Mind" and Emmylou Harris' "Wrecking Ball." He's a constant collaborator, an impressionistic guitarist (especially on pedal steel), a questing experimenter and an occasional songwriter.
His solo works have been sporadic and varied, sometimes focusing on traditional songcraft (his 1989 debut "Acadie"), sometimes on instrumentals (2005's Grammy-nominated "Belladonna").
On the one hand, "Heavy Sun" sounds like a Lanois production. It is rootsy, but with subtle experimental touches of loops and vintage beatbox percussion. It moves in waves but nestles into comforting mid-tempos. It is moody and familiar.
On the other hand, the real star of "Heavy Sun" is Johnny Shepherd, the organist and vocalist and sometime leader of Zion Baptist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana. This is a gospel album, full of life-affirming spiritual messages and impressive singing with Lanois, guitarist Rocco DeLuca and bassist Jim Wilson providing harmonies to Shepherd's impassioned voice - and usually taking a backseat to his churchy organ playing.
Lanois is in his collaborator form here. He co-wrote the songs with DeLuca and Shepherd. His guitar twines with DeLuca's. His voice meshes in the four-part harmonies and rarely takes the lead. A spirit of community is central to "Heavy Sun's" supportive and reassuring effect.