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THE REVIEW
Record found a couple of years ago at a flea market... (Fiera del Disco di Francavilla al Mare) but as someone says, sometimes it's the records that find you.
The other life of Jim Jarmusch... The Del-Byzanteens, a brilliant project of the filmmaker before he devoted himself to cinema.
Perhaps more geographically framed within the No Wave brood but more conventional compared to the dissonances characterizing the "terrorists" of the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
Sounds transversal to the things that at that time (1982) stirred the USA (Pere Ubu, Polyrock, Talking Heads, The B-52's, Bush Tetras) and partly the UK, I found traces of 23 Skidoo and the skewed psychedelia of Matt ("Burning Blue Soul") Johnson.
Only album produced, along with two singles from the same period, "Lies To Live By" is a container of exotic experimentalism, ethno-tribalism, funky vibrations, and dangerously post-punk creativity.
Too bad for the discographic oblivion, for over 30 years never reissued in any form (only an appearance in the compilation New York Noise Vol. 2 of the meritorious Soul Jazz Records).
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Summary by Bot
This review highlights The Del-Byzanteens' sole album 'Lies To Live By' from 1982, a unique project by filmmaker Jim Jarmusch. The album blends No Wave and post-punk with experimental and ethno-tribal elements, standing out in the US and UK scenes of the time. Despite its rarity and lack of reissues, the album is praised as a creative gem with vibrant, funky undertones. It serves as a fascinating musical prelude to Jarmusch's later cinematic work.Tracklist
The Del-Byzanteens
A New York-based early 1980s band featuring Jim Jarmusch; released the album Lies To Live By (1982), their only LP, plus two singles.02 Reviews
Other reviews
By maurinok60
The title track is a small miracle of musical intelligence with a chorus that, once entered, will not leave your brain.
The Del-Byzanteens deserve more attention than many others from the period... it’s worth it.
