Remain in Light Review: Polyrhythmic Paranoia
9.5/10 — Talking Heads - Remain in Light (1980)
Pros
- Infectious polyrhythms
- 'Once in a Lifetime'
- Brian Eno's production
Cons
- Loose song structures
Produced by Brian Eno, Remain in Light was built from long grooves and jam sessions, with David Byrne adding lyrics and vocals afterwards. It drew on Fela Kuti’s Afrobeat.
What works
‘Once in a Lifetime’ is one of the band’s finest moments, and ‘Born Under Punches’ and ‘Crosseyed and Painless’ are tense and funky. The interlocking rhythms and layered guitars are thrilling, and Byrne’s lyrics are deliciously odd.
Where it falters
The groove-heavy structure means some songs lack traditional shape, and the vocals can feel secondary.
Verdict
A brilliant, influential and wonderfully weird record.
