Of all the many notable Brian Eno collaborations over the years, his long-held partnership with David Byrne has been, perhaps, the most seamless one. From the Eno-produced Talking Heads records to their essential 1981 LP as a duo, My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, up to near-present-day work on the Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps soundtrack, the pair have made the act of pushing the envelope in a state of uninhibited creativity look easy. Just last month, a video profile of their process on 2008′s Everything That Happens Happen Will Happen Today recirculated after its director, new media pioneer Hillman Curtis, passed away. And now a vintage look behind the curtain has been unveiled, as an early version of the aforementioned ’81 set hit the web in the form of a cassette demo handed to a Byrne acquaintance 31 years ago. If you’re familiar with the original LP and want to spot its many deviations (certain samples, tracklist, lyrics, etc.), check it out over at My Wall of Tapes (via Dangerous Minds). At the very least, this artifact is sure to help you tap into a well of creative inspiration.
Meanwhile, now I have an excuse to share another fascinating look at Eno’s approach… Here’s the excellent 1989 documentary Imaginary Landscapes: