REMAIN IN LIGHT

Remain In Light marks not only a great followup to Fear Of Music, but most importantly, a creative peak in the band's discography. Filled with a huge list of guest appearances, among which we can spot familiar names like Adrian Belew and Brian Eno, Talking Heads were really trying to get as much new blood into the mix and it didn't take long for the results to follow. Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On) is Talking Heads like we've never heard them before, featuring a backing choir and different sound twitches and effects, marking a new chapter for fusion music.

Things actually get even better when Talking Heads outdo themselves with Crosseyed And Painless which, even to this day, remains my favorite out of the many crossover tracks that David Byrne had worked on. The Great Curve is generally considered just as great as the two preceding tracks, although I personally miss that same intensity that kept me on the edge of my seat the first two times. This is the track where Adrian Belew really gets a shot in the spotlight with his guitar work that culminates with his off-the-wall guitar solo, even if the version depicted on the live album The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads is even more exciting!

The rest of the album isn't really as upbeat but that doesn't mean that there is an automatic drop in quality. How could it possibly, when you have compositions like Once In A Lifetime and Listening Wind? Still, the biggest highlight of Remain In Light for me will remain the haunting conclusion with the 6 minute performance of The Overload! This is one of those complete moments of genius that comes completely out of nowhere and adds rich texture to the already excellent performance. There's no reason for me to explain this track to anyone since I'll be ruining this experience in the process. Just give this album a spin and expect the unexpected right towards its end!

***** star songs: Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On) (5:49) Crosseyed And Painless (4:46) The Overload (6:03)

**** star songs: The Great Curve (6:28) Once In A Lifetime (4:20) Houses In Motion (4:33) Seen And Not Seen (3:25) Listening Wind (4:43)

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