David Byrne
Music for The Knee Plays
ECM Records (US) 1985
1-25022 (LP)
sleeve: NM-
media : EX-/EX(some slightly noise. the first part on A1 has one pop noise)
Talking Heads mastermind David Byrne created this album for The CIVIL warS, a stage work by visual artist Robert Wilson, also known for his collaborations with Philip Glass. Released in 1985 on ECM, it stands as one of the most distinctive works in Byrne’s solo discography. Centered around a brass ensemble inspired by New Orleans’ Dirty Dozen Brass Band, the album brings together gospel, Bulgarian folk music, minimalism, spoken word, and theatrical humor in a uniquely imaginative way. Highlights include A1/B1, where lightly bouncing brass and percussion, a subtly mechanical sense of repetition, and Byrne’s surreal narration blend beautifully; A2, with its striking ritualistic chorus; and B4, featuring a brass ensemble full of soft melancholy. A superb fusion of imaginary New Orleans jazz and stage music, reconstructed through a post-new wave sensibility. A truly unique entry in the ECM catalogue. Highly recommended.
A1: Tree
B6: In The Future