The Swarm

April 17, 2008

Electronic Gospel: David Byrne and Brian Eno reuniting for new album, live shows...

TDS Editors

As Drowned in Sound noted today, David Byrne announced this week that his long-rumored return to the studio with Brian Eno is nearly complete:

The dream art-rock team of David Byrne and Brian Eno will return with new, strange fruit soon, the former Talking Heads man told NME.com recently.

Speaking at an event in New York, Byrne revealed that the duo had rekindled the relationship they formed in the late 70s/early 80s which resulted in three Talking Heads records and 1981’s classic My Life in the Bush of Ghosts.

“I’m finishing up a record with Brian Eno, a musician that I worked with 30 years ago,” Byrne said following an appearance with Paul Simon at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on the 9th of April. “We did a record together of songs, and that’ll come out.”

The NY Daily News adds:

Byrne told us he’s collaborating with their mutual friend Brian Eno “for the first time in 20 years. Brian had written a lot of music, but needed some words, which I know how to do. What’s it sound like? Electronic gospel. That’s all I’m saying.”

Sources say the album will likely be released via Nonesuch, but probably not until 2009 before the end of the year.

In the meantime, David Byrne’s booking agent at William Morris Agency, Mark Geiger, has been soliciting offers from a number of different promoters around the United States for Byrne/Eno live shows, promising the set list will consist of at least 40% Eno-era Talking Heads material. No word yet on if he’s had any takers. Most of the tour is already booked.

UPDATE: Enoweb:

According to Opal, Brian will not be touring with David Byrne, so it looks like wires getting crossed at Daily Swarm’s source.


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27 Comments

#1 me thinks says:

this could be better than a Talking Heads reunion

#2 Tom Tom says:

david was in top talking heads form at those paul simon shows at BAM. it was like Stop Making Sense style David. i enjoy feeling like i'm on a first name basis with David.

#3 noise says:

ME mE ME ME i want a ticket!

#4 Crosseyed says:

yeh baby

make it funky

#5 David Eno says:

Holy !@#$
Did the heavens realign themselves today or what?
Can I get front row seats now please?

#6 Fuck Clapton says:

ENO IS GOD!!!

#7 Throback says:

LENO IS GOD!!!

#8 raspberryjones says:

WOW! This is exciting! I hope they at least ask Chris and Tina, though I doubt it.

#9 Maldo says:

It obviously depends on the quality of the music, but the live shows could be amazing. But not if Byrne uses the same soulless young things who backed him up at the Carnegie Hall show a while back. I bet the stage production will be very cool. Can't wait!

#10 Deno Ebyrne says:

Just think were we would be if Eno had never left Roxy Music. Eno is a god!

#11 Poopin on it. says:

Paul Simon? Bleagh!
Nonesuch? Pretense!
What's next, Byrne/Eno and the Boston Pops?
"My Life on the Aisle of Metamucil"
Lastly, "Electronic Gospel"...so, uh, about half of the original My Life Album - great growth, guys!

#12 Kark Molman says:

Wish they'd just do Eno/Byrne material like My Life in the Bush of Ghosts and the new album. By including the TH crowd they will sell out big time. Happy to have the new music though. Hope it's funky!

#13 Ghost Bush. says:

oh hell yessssss.

#14 Artbot says:

I wonder if Adrian Belew will be joining them? I would be willing to sell my first-born for a ticket to that show.

#15 NO WAY says:

This could be the best thing, like, ever.

I missed the talking heads cause I wasn't alive enough back in the early 80's. This would make my year...

#16 jerry harrison says:

MOTHER OF GOD!, this is all very exciting!

#17 Ruby says:

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LET THEM COME TO NORTH CAROLINA. OH PLEASE!

#18 Whore king Teds says:

oh yaye oh yaye oh yaye, add a dash of Tina please and cut the gospel crap

#19 muleskinner says:

It's going to be great BECAUSE it's not a TH reunion.

I remember an interview a few years ago:

Q: Do you ever get tired of people asking about a TH reunion?

DB: Well, it's kind of like if people kept asking you to put the clothes on that you used to wear in 4th grade.

#20 Hotratsalex says:

And about time too...

#21 GeoCentric says:

John Cale should give a call.

#22 thelink says:

i love mark geiger.

#23 everythingisdivided says:

this is a blessing. "poopin on it", it sucks you feel that way. if they actually tour i'll be at every show. see you freaks there.

#24 elisa sugar says:

this is great news!

#25 bunbun says:

Is it true that Brian Eno once fell asleep onstage..back in 1975 in Toronto. Any truth to that? Anyway, I would LOVE to see both these music masters in action..'Aisle of Metamucil' my eye!

#26 Mojique says:

the wind in my hearrrrrrrt....the dust in my headdddddd! CAN'T WAIT to hear what theyve been up to...this is way overdue!

#27 BruceLee says:

Eno has had a long-standing philosophy against public performance. I admit, it would be absolutely great but..he couldn't do the same thing night after night Good thing he doesn't hold down a corporate job! Drive him nuts in a week. It would be the cult tour of the decade. "Ghosts" was so ahead of its time, it wasn't funny. Prophetic in fact. As for "Surprise," It comes and goes for me. Paul made a sombre album and Brian's treatments take it down a notch. I need to take a little metal to pick myself up again. Some of it is sweet, but it's definite mood music. Hopefully, he didn't do this with David.


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