David Byrne and St. Vincent: Love This Giant

By Stephen Thompson, NPR Music

davidbyrnestvincent.jpgThere's essentially no way for a collaboration between Talking Heads' David Byrne and St. Vincent's Annie Clark to exceed the sum of its parts. Each artist is distinctive enough, and dominant enough over the work on which he or she appears, that their sensibilities can't be blended so much as stacked in such a way that they coexist simultaneously. Still, Love This Giant (out Sept. 11) brings Byrne and Clark together in provocative and frequently exciting ways, thanks in part to a slyly funky horn section and an overarching sense of brainy boldness.

Though they swap lead-vocal duties, Byrne's jittery, globe-trotting eclecticism tends to overshadow Clark's efforts, in part because the horns' volume forces her guitar work out of the foreground. But Byrne sounds more invigorated than he has in years, and as one of the best young singers, arrangers and guitarists in the business, Clark possesses a craftsmanship-intensive oddness which meshes nicely with his.

Besides the considerable talent on display here — in addition to the headliners, the album features the work of producers John Congleton and Patrick Dillett, as well as guests Antibalas and The Dap-Kings in the horn-flooded "The One Who Broke Your Heart" — the key ingredient on Love This Giant is energy. There's a funky, live-wire, anything-goes feel throughout the record, as it honks and soars through strange ruminations on aging, culture and nature, while showcasing a persistent flair for movement and mayhem.

Love This Giant will be available to stream on demand from Monday, September 3 through September 10, 2012.

Playlist

04:22
[BREAK]
04:53
KCRW default album cover
FirewoodRegina Spektor
Album
What I Saw From The Cheap Seats
Label
Sire
09:36
Album cover: Vows
The Build UpKimbra
Album
Vows
Label
Warner Bros.
14:36
KCRW default album cover
So NiceWanda Sá, Sergio Mendes
Album
Ultra-Lounge
16:43
Album cover: Jailza
Som Di Nha EsperancaBau
Album
Jailza
Label
Lusafrica (Fra)
21:37
KCRW default album cover
Altar BoyRickie Lee Jones
Album
Live on KCRW (5/4/94)
Label
unreleased
23:49
Album cover: Sarbacane
Petite SireneFrancis Cabrel
Album
Sarbacane
Label
CBS France
27:30
Album cover: Anastasis
AnabasisDead Can Dance
Album
Anastasis
Label
PIAS
33:52
KCRW default album cover
Breathe MeSia
Album
Remixes Disc 1 of 2
38:52
Album cover: False Priest
Coquet Coquette (clean)Of Montreal
Album
False Priest
Label
Polyvinyl

Load More

Credits