Transmit the message to the receiver, hope for an answer someday

Thursday music corner: Scottish-born, American-raised musician David Byrne (b. Dumbarton, 1952) came to prominence through the hugely influential group Talking Heads, and his reputation has only grown following his long solo career. His touring shows for albums American Utopia and Who Is The Sky? have been gaining him legions of new, younger fans thanks to their warmth and optimism, and the way they successfully integrate musical and dance performances using unplugged instruments.

Byrne has released 11 solo albums since 1981, including two with Brian Eno (My Life in the Bush of Ghosts from 1981, and Everything That Happens Will Happen Today in 2008), and one each with St Vincent and the Ghost Train Orchestra. This April 2026 performance of Life During Wartime is part of Byrne's Who Is The Sky? tour show, and was recorded at the Coachella music festival in California on 11 April. The track originally appeared on the third Talking Heads album Fear of Music in 1979, and was the album's first single.

David Byrne - Life During Wartime (live, 2026) 

See also:

Music: David Byrne - Everybody Laughs (2025)

Music: David Byrne & Brian Eno - Strange Overtones (2008)

Music: David Byrne - Dance on Vaseline (1997)

Karori pioneers

The first hardy settlers who came into the Karori Valley by way of the Maori path faced difficulties in identifying the sections of their title and initially many camped in the bush together whilst they made their way around the valley.

The first settler into the valley is given to be a Mr J[ohn] Yule who had arrived in Port Nicholson with his family in March of 1840 aboard the Bengal Merchant. Later, Yule was reported by Heaphy in his writings regarding settlement to be clearing about 20 acres of heavily timbered forest in the Karori Valley and to have built a house there within 6 months. He mentions further that Yule was unaided in his occupation except for a Maori assistant and Yule's brother, Alexander. The Yules were referred to as being "two young Scotsmen".

The Chief Justice at the time, H. S. Chapman had also taken up land in the area and by 1846 had erected the first Homewood residence.

By the late 1840s a building had been erected to serve both as a chapel and school, and a shop had been opened. In 1852 church services were being held at Mr S. Lancaster's residence and a small hall had been built on land given by a Mr Haire. This hall apparently stood on the site of the old Council Chambers. Church services were held in the hall and according to a Mr J. Eagle, an early resident in the district, some three people named Collins, Brodie and Kelt were interred on the site. (When excavations were carried out in the 1930s it appears some 6-8 people had been buried there.)

Karori and Makara have always had a close association and it is interesting to recall a selection of early pioneers who came to the district in those first years of settlement, who built homes from out of the bush and thus prepared the way for further development. Names such as Yule, Chapman, Lancaster, Shotter, Haire, Campbell, Lewer, Cook, McKelvie, Kilmister, Spiers, Barnes, Cole, Richmond, Eagle, Monk, Donald and Monaghan can all be put down as early pioneers to the district.

- Joseph & Betty Kenneally, Karori Then, Wellington, 1980, p.5

See also:
Blog: What's on at the Regal, 27 August 2023
Blog: Karori Lunatic Asylum, 15 February 2022

Blog: The old route to Karori, 16 August 2020

This, what I thought I knew

Thursday music corner: Widely-revered English experimental music pioneer Brian Eno (b. Suffolk, 1948) first attained widespread attention as a founding member of glam rock trailblazers Roxy Music from 1971. He appeared on Roxy's first two albums, Roxy Music (1972) and For Your Pleasure (1973), before branching out as a solo artist in 1973. 

Eno has released dozens of albums, both solo and collaborative efforts. Four of his solo albums entered the UK top 40: his debut Here Come The Warm Jets (1974), Apollo: Atmospheres & Soundtracks (1983), The Ship (2016), and ForeverAndEverNoMore (2022). Two notable collaborative albums include My Life in the Bush of Ghosts with David Byrne (1981) and Original Soundtracks 1 with U2 (1995). As a highly-respected record producer he helmed a wide range of albums, including David Bowie's "Berlin Trilogy" Low, Heroes and Lodger, plus 1995's Outside; Talking Heads' Fear of Music and Remain in Light; and six albums by U2. He was the subject of the 2024 'AI-generated edit' documentary Eno by Gary Hustwit.

'This' was the opening track on Eno's 2005 album Another Day on Earth. Its lyrics were informed by random computer-generated cut-up processes.   

Brian Eno - This (2005)

See also:

Music: Fripp & Eno - The Heavenly Music Corporation Pt.1 (1973)

Music: Brian Eno - Needles in the Camel's Eye (1974)

Music: Brian Eno - And Then So Clear (2005)