DAVID BYRNE

DAVID BYRNE (The Supper Club, Manhattan)

Waiting in a line that wrapped around the block, I began telling my friend about how I’d rushed up to Warner’s to pick up the David Byrne album, so I could have a listen before the show. What’s it like? Well, there’s nothing like ‘Psycho Killer’ on it ,. . .

But, faithful to the old style of Rock where songs stretched out like taffy in concert, David Byrne has produced an album that is merely a rough sketch for his live performance. Throwing his head back, flexing his vocal range while dancing around the stage, songs such as ‘Back In The Box’ and ‘Sad Song’ were given luminous dimension. While some artists sample phrases, Byrne samples styles and his newer songs coloured with salsa, funk and jazz were especially vivid. Reaching way back to ethereal collaborations with Brian Eno the atmosphere was so lush, I had to close my eyes to fully appreciate it.

In addition to some Talking Heads material – ‘Tiny Town’, ‘Girls, Girls, Girls’, and yes, ‘Psycho Killer’ – jamming renditions of ‘Lilies Of The Valley’ and ‘You And Eye’ had even the industry honchos moving their torsos. For now, Byrne’s whole attitude seems to be summed up in ‘Buck Naked’.

In his heart and in his soul, he is entirely stripped down and self-assured. “How does it feel, does anybody know?” David Byrne live is definitely worth checking out.

• Melissa Knight