10. Talking HeadsRemain In Light
This is an album that became a bit of a soundtrack for me. I would listen to it on my own quite a lot, pre-headphones. I would put it on as I fell asleep at night then wake up in the night and go, “Aaaargh!” when a loud bit came on. There is something quite hypnotic about this record. I find it very propulsive, very strange, very kinetic – I’m just reaching for phrases here. I have always liked Talking Heads, and David Byrne’s attitude and comic strangeness. I’m not sure where his writing is coming from, it is an odd place and very compelling. On that album I also love the guitar playing.
Of course, the main hit – ‘Once In A Lifetime’ – is the one everyone knows. It is such an odd tune. It is like an art piece – sort of satirical and brilliantly funny and lonely.
The production and the strange choices that Eno probably brought to it are so interesting. The strange repeating sound in the background is so evocative – it is hard to know what that instrument is. You hear the noise and everyone knows it instantly.
