A once in a lifetime album

The year was 1979. Ambient music pioneer Brian Eno and Talking Heads frontman David Byrne began work on a two-year exercise in the experimental that would take their budding creative marriage to new heights. In 1981, My Life in the Bush of Ghosts was released to much acclaim, earning immediate status as a groundbreaking work, a synthesis of world music, ambient and the polyrhythmic funkiness of the Talking Heads. Twenty-five years after its initial release, My Life has been given new life with seven bonus tracks and extensive liner notes by Byrne and Eno. The re-release is a complete package, shedding new light on the creative process behind one of the definitive experimental works of the last quarter century. \nWhat made this album unique was not only its eclectic, other-worldly nature, but also it's emphasis on found sounds, samples from radio broadcasts and field recordings done by the duo. The album also employed many bizarre recording techniques, notably the unorthodox use of inanimate objects as supplements for real instruments. Tracks feature cardboard box bass drums and biscuit tin snare drums in an effort Eno describes as being: "to sound slightly unfamiliar, fresher." \nThat unfamiliarity is one of the most striking and consistent qualities of the album and is apparent the moment we are introduced to the dark, funky grind of "America is Waiting." A sample repeats: "What's he gonna do?" over a punchy Byrne guitar. The listener can't help but be entranced by a sound that is still alien after all these years. "Mea Culpa" follows, its percussive African nature drawing influence from the Eno produced Heads' classic Remain In Light. The laidback sonic funk of "Regiment," complete with Middle-Eastern vocal samples, will have many connecting the dots between Eno and Karsh Kale. The up-tempo dance party "Help Me Somebody" is next, with its intoxicating African percussion and guitar, further demonstrating the duos fascination with African music. "The Jezebel Spirit" is perhaps the most bizarre track on the album. Another tight funk number, "Jezebel" is set to a lengthy sample of an exorcism being performed - a very odd pairing indeed. The further the album progresses, the deeper the tracks venture into the familiar realm of Eno ambience. The ethereal atmospherics of "Mountain of Needles" take the listener to the familiar territory of Ambient series, and "Come With Us" is glitched-out Eno at his best. A cerebral album from beginning to end, My Life successfully captures two visceral musicians in the spirit what they do best: creating music that evokes raw emotion.