As the 70s came to a close, Talking Heads had evolved far beyond their beginnings as post-punk pioneers among New York City’s famed CBGB set. In collaboration with sonic architect Brian Eno, the group had fashioned 1979’s Fear Of Music album, spearheading the sound of new wave for the 80s as they pulled in influences ranging from African music to Dada poetry and angular funk, mixing it all into their own unique art-rock and topping it off with frontman David Byrne’s detached observations on contemporary living.

From the wry humour of ‘Heaven’ to the edgy paranoia of ‘Psycho Killer’ and a cathartic version of Al Green’s Southern soul classic ‘Take Me To The River’, The 1979 Japanese Broadcast captures the group on taut, wiry form in Tokyo. Once In A Lifetime was just around the corner, but hearing this broadcast recording is an opportunity to be seized.

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