Album Review: David Byrne & St Vincent - Love This Giant

As time goes on, one can appreciate the scope of David Byrne's brilliant approach to writing popular music. This new collaboration by these two eccentric performers is fresh and insightful, bringing together different genres and different ways of approaching song structures. St Vincent's original suggestion of using a big brass band was what made Byrne dive into the project. His arrangements and modern hip hop beats are perfect and St Vincent aka Annie Clark's vocals dance around his strange themes.

The opening track Who has a bit of a Talking Heads feel, using brass stabs and a great quirky rhythm to start proceedings. This is the track radio has been playing and it is definitely the most obvious song resembling a single. Songs like Lazarus are accessible but don't have as many addictive hooks. St Vincent's voice is thin and feminine yet perfectly complements David Byrne's odd approach. Dinner for Two is one of the strongest tracks with an incredible visual element. You can almost see the actions taking place as the song unfolds.

Byrne and Vincent will be out here next year to play these songs at the Sydney Festival and no doubt this album will be perfect fodder for fans of Byrne and Talking Heads alike. There is no one out there who sounds anything like this, possibly due to the brass arrangements and impeccable production by Patrick Dillett behind the desk. Love This Giant just goes to show Byrne can do almost anything and make it special. It also has reminded me I must go back and listen to some old Talking Heads records.