Ilé Aiyé (The House of
Life)
Picture: C+
Sound: C+ Extras: C+ Main Program: C+
Since leaving The Talking Heads, David Byrne has continued
to delve into African and Brazilian music in a way that makes Paul Simon look
like he only visited it briefly. Of
course, Simon got two great albums out of the experience, while Byrne decided
to also do a videotaped project called Ilé Aiyé (The House of Life). The 1989 project uses analog video split
screen and picture-in-picture techniques to show a collage of the culture of
Candomblé, an African spirit cult in a part of Brazil called Bahia.
The 51 minutes are interesting on their own with their
original audio, as well as with Byrne explaining what you are seeing. It is more fun the first time without his
words like Baraka or like film projects. On Video, it has a different feel, as if old television footage
is taking a risk to be abstract or artistic.
It turns out this cult (cult in a good way, as if I needed to be
Politically Correct) influenced much of the culture around it and in profound
ways, though it is only one of many influences over there. Byrne does some music for the program, so
like the Jonathan Demme feature film Stop Making Sense, you are not
hearing everything in its original form.
At least this project was not put through several studios for
remixing. There are no chapter stops
and this program runs 51 minutes.
The 1.33 X 1 image was shot on professional NTSC analog
video and shows its age, especially with the effects used, but the effect is
worth the quality loss. The Dolby
Digital 2.0 Stereo has no real surrounds, but sounds good for its age and
circumstances. Extras include the Byrne
commentary and a nicely illustrated, text-filled booklet typical of the good
offerings Plexifilm is always putting out.
If you like Byrne, this kind of music and/or visual experience, Ilé
Aiyé (The House of Life) is for you.
- Nicholas Sheffo
