Smithsonian Folkways have announced the release of Songs From The Bardo, an 80 minute composition designed as as a guide through the visionary text of Tibetan Book Of The Dead, by Laurie Anderson, Tibetan singer and multi-instrumentalist Tenzin Choegyal and Jesse Paris Smith. Also featuring cellist Rubin Kodheli and percussionist Shahzad Ismaily, it was first performed at New York’s Rubin Museum of Art, .

Choegyal, who was born into a family of Tibetan nomads forced into exile in India, says in the album’s sleevenotes, “I have tried to channel the wisdom and traditions of my ancestors through my music in a very contemporary way while holding the depth of my lineage.” For the performance he uses a lingbu (a Tibetan bamboo flute), dranyen (a stringed lute-like instrument), singing bowls, a gong and vocals. (Patti Smith’s daughter) Jesse Paris Smith performs on piano and a collection of crystal bowls, while Anderson acts as narrator.

Songs From The Bardo is released on 27 September. Listen to the track “Lotus Born, No Need For Fear” here.