DAVID BYRNE & BRIAN ENO: EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS WILL HAPPEN TODAY

After more than 25 years an unexpected rumor began circulating the Internet regarding a potential new collaboration album between Eno & Byrne. This was met with an enormous cheer by all the fans of the duos groundbreaking 1981-release which has considerably expanded its fan-base since the '80s.

Being a huge fan of My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts I didn't hesitate for a minute and pre-ordered the new album as soon as it became available. This strategy managed to backfire and resulted in a lesson that I carry with me to this day. Namely, be sure to listen to samples before actually buying an album! This was especially applicable in the case of Everything That Happens Will Happen Today since the entire album can be streamed from its official website.

Judging from my rating it can be assumed that I didn't find this album particularly appealing but I will restrain from any criticism connected to Brian Eno. I guess it would be difficult to complain about a Brian Eno album that in fact isn't really a Brian Eno album. Although Eno claims, in the video posted in the album's official website, that he has written most of the material it was David Byrne who contributed the lyrics and provided his vocals to the album. In order to do so all of the original demos had to be adjusted to fit with his vocal delivery. The final result of this editing is almost completely void of the famous Eno touch that has been so well established on all of his previous works.

This basically leaves us with just another David Byrne solo-album but with bland material that wouldn't really fit next to all of his previous releases. Having followed Byrne's solo career ever since Rei Momo I would personally rank this as his weakest offering to date. This material just doesn't fit him all that well and have it not been for a few minor exceptions to this statement I wouldn't hesitate of giving it the lowest rating.

As it stands today I can still imagine that Byrne's most dedicated fans might find some enjoyment in this album. As for Brian Eno, it has been a while since we've had an album featuring his compositions so even his fans might be slightly amused to hear some of these new compositions although they won't find more than a few hints of his touch scattered over a few performances here. It's a collectors/fans only release that I recommend streaming off the official website before actually considering a purchase!

**** star songs: Home (5:06) Poor Boy (4:19)

*** star songs: My Big Nurse (3:21) I Feel My Stuff (6:25) Everything That Happens (3:47) Life Is Long (3:46) Wanted For Life (5:06) One Fine Day (4:55) The Lighthouse (3:46)

** star songs: The River (2:31) Strange Overtones (4:17)