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The prospect of a collaboration between David Byrne and St Vincent’s Annie Clark is an enticing one. Byrne, one of the late 20th century’s most artful musical alchemists – from Talking Heads and on through his solo music, film, art and theatrical works – meets a woman feted as much for the ingenuity of her arrangements as for her swoon of a voice. Potentially, a perfect cerebral pop pairing, but has the end product lived up to expectations?
It would appear, wonderfully, so. Chiefly constructed around brass band instrumentation, the pair manages to avoid the staid conservatism that this might suggest, instead imbuing Weekend in the Dust, Dinner for Two and Lightning with a rhythmic slink that is more indebted to funk and afrobeat than it is to Sousa or a Colliery Band. Ice Age’s jerk-funk rhythms exemplify the stylish, under-your-skin groove that informs the whole album.
Combined with this is the pleasing combination of the two protagonists’ vocals. Although Byrne’s distinctive voice initially dominates, eventually the beauty and flexibility of Clark’s vocals, and their central role, are revealed. Offsetting his discursive, conversational style (“I took a walk down to the park today”), her singing switches between sultry and tuneful (Who) and reflective and floating (the wonderful Ice Age), providing wonderful harmonies that elevate both the song and the spirit ( I Am an Ape).
The album, despite having no obvious overarching theme or plot-line, nevertheless feels like an integrated conceptual piece. Creating alluring word-images, like The Forest Awakes’ perpetual motion, circle-of-life pictures (“A Song is a road / A road is a face”) or I Am an Ape’s mysterious “statue of the man who won the war”, the feeling is generally playful yet profound. A few tunes – Weekend in the Dust, Optimist, touching album closer Outside of Space & Time – would not sound out of place in a Broadway show.
Love This Giant improves and deepens on each listen. Byrne and Clark have managed to not only meet but exceed expectations, and created one of the year’s smartest albums in doing so.
--James Skinner
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Big Jim
TOP 50 REVIEWER
Format:Audio CD
You can probably tell by the cover image of Annie Clark and her strange jaw that there is bound to be a degree of oddness afoot here and this is backed up by the music, which is definitely not "mainstream". Lyrical quirks abound, and the stop/start rhythms take a bit of getting used to but patience is rewarded as you begin to appreciate that this is music for grown ups, not to be listened to and immediately discarded but to be savoured again and again as new textures and soundscapes reveal themselves. There are electronic treatments aplenty as well as melifluous brass (is that a tuba in there?) some funky bass and guitar, basically the "unexpected" that you'd expect from these 2. For me a couple of tracks don't quite work, Ice age doesn't really go anywhere and the forest awakes goes on a bit, but these are minor personal quibbles that others may not share. Well worth a listen.
By MacPablo
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
From being a big Talking Heads and David Byrne fan from the late 70s and early 80s, I decided to give this a go.
What a fabulous surprise; an album with humour, humanity and real personality. Mr Byrne has relaxed a little compared with his somewhat edgy presence in the old days and with an equally telling contribution from St Vincent has produced my favourite album for a long time.
Quality songwriting from start to finish, engaging lyrics, innovative use of their excellent band of brass musicians, this collection of songs will draw you in and provide hours of satisfaction.
Give it a go.
What a fabulous surprise; an album with humour, humanity and real personality. Mr Byrne has relaxed a little compared with his somewhat edgy presence in the old days and with an equally telling contribution from St Vincent has produced my favourite album for a long time.
Quality songwriting from start to finish, engaging lyrics, innovative use of their excellent band of brass musicians, this collection of songs will draw you in and provide hours of satisfaction.
Give it a go.
Format:Audio CD
A difficult first listen, especially in the car. But put it on a real hi-fi and it really grabs your attention. Theres a lot going on. The production is clean and opens up the music beautifully. The combination of brass with synth driven alt pop is difficult to describe but somehow just leaves you wanting more. The rhythms and melodies stay with you long after you turn it off. Mr Byrne is at his quirky best and although Annie Clarke is new to me she has earnt my respect in a short space of time. Check out the live performances on YouTube and you'll see just what an interesting project this is. I've got my ticket for the B'ham show. If you appreciate music that doesn't fit neatly into convenient categories then try this. You might be pleasantly surprised how well it works.
By Old Man
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you're a fan of either Byrne or Annie Clark, or both, then, like, you kinda need this album, bro.
Don't let me down.
Don't let me down.
By Chukkaman
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
These two mavericks should have found each other a million years ago...they fit seamlessly in style, emotion, quirkiness and sheer genius! As a result of listening to this, I have booked to see them on their tour this summer!
By JMS
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
David Byrne doesn't disappoint - very interesting and immediately attention grabbing - I listened to it 3 times in a row when I first got it
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
But I enjoyed it becase I am. Some tracks are really good but its not mind-blowing stuff. Not to the standard of Talking Heads, also reminded me of Bjork a lot. Particulary the Volta album and Songs of Selma.
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Two voices that should not work together, but they do. I like it because it jumps around your head, and you'll find yourself singing along
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Tops!!!
My numero uno album for 2012. Fun, innovative -love the brass, love Annie Clarke's voice, love the lyrics -great little album and I find myself returning to it time after time
Published 4 months ago by MR M H SPEAR
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love this album (sic)
David Byrne and St Vncent , great collaboration from two great artists. Hope they do more together in the near future.
Published 4 months ago by Benji
4.0 out of 5 stars
He's a star!
This album starts well, it'll bring a smile to your soul but it does lose it's way a bit towards the end I feel. Maybe I need to play it more...
Published 6 months ago by MusthavMahler
5.0 out of 5 stars
A high energy shot of Byrne et al
It took me a little time to like this slightly unusually composed piece. First off was the poor quality cd casing, a cellulose sleeve such as you get with giveaways on the fronts... Read more
Published 7 months ago by M. J. Powell
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant
I bought this on the back of their advertising, having not heard one single track from the album.
Probably the best CD I have bought all year, you will either love it or hate... Read more
Probably the best CD I have bought all year, you will either love it or hate... Read more
Published 7 months ago by tmcg
2.0 out of 5 stars
A solid Extended Play disc, but not a convincing Long Player
The brass is a gimmick that quickly outlives its welcome. They couldn't find much variation for it and so it ended up being very repetitive. Read more
Published 8 months ago by BS on parade
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