This album reminds me of the first time I saw David Byrne. At the Brixton Academy with Jeremy, Kate P and other friends who I guess are friends no more, in… was it December 1989? He had a big Brazilian band with him, all dressed in white, and they must have played just about all of Rei Momo. Having read DB's recent "journal" entries about his New York shows, I'm really excited about seeing him again 20 years later next month. Guy's got us tickets in the fourth row; Jeremy's coming too. Looks like they're all wearing white again — now including David's hair!
I've got a soft spot for this album the size of the Amazon basin. Of all the Byrne solo albums, it feels like the lightest and freshest. I don't think it's the lyrics, many of which are sombre of even bleak, but the rhythms and the arrangements lift the songs. Compared with Naked, which it followed, it may seem like a narrower canvas (though the Brazilians don't think so), but it's more relaxed, more fun.
Marching Through the Wilderness is my favourite of a great set of songs. I love those bom-bom-bom-BOMs.
 MusicBrainz entry for this albumWikipedia entry for this album Rate Your Music entry for this album Listen to this album in full at Last.fm |
Comments