David Byrne - “Who Is The Sky?” Review
Written by Beau Croxton
On Who is the Sky?, David Byrne ponders some of life’s more peculiar questions with an elaborate and beautiful backing by Ghost Train Orchestra. It's a joyous affair with occasional flashes of Byrne’s notorious brilliance.
In 2023, after his long and successful run of American Utopia on Broadway, and some years of compiling ideas and drawings, David Byrne began putting together his new record Who Is The Sky?. The record is a collaboration between Byrne, producer Kid Harpoon, and the New York based chamber-orchestra ensemble Ghost Train Orchestra– the record is vividly detailed due to the broad instrumental palette. Although Kid Harpoon is a producer who has worked with some pretty poppy artists like Harry Styles and Miley Cyrus, there is no need to worry– Byrne’s odd artistic flair is just as eccentric, if a little more neatly packaged.
David Byrne worked on these songs acoustically long before the orchestral fusion began, and that tried-and-tested approach to songwriting proves successful on the record. The orchestral accompaniment to these folky-pop songs enhances the material, but the majority of the songwriting does not rely on any heavy lifting from the vast instrumentation. In fact, the songs themselves and the orchestration coexist quite nicely, dovetailing each other in just the right spots.
With its cheerful candor, beautiful orchestral backing, universal themes, and easy sing-alongs, Who is the Sky? is an approachable and fun record to listen to, and it features many of Byrne’s trademark, oddball quirks that you will find in his both his solo work and work with Talking Heads.
Opening track “Everybody Laughs” sets the tone perfectly, as it's a very charming tune with universal themes– it lists how similar everyone is despite our differences. It doesn't hurt that it will be very accessible for a sing-along at his upcoming shows. His close collaborator St Vincent (aka Annie Clark) lends her vocals to many refrains here– it brings a nostalgia for their fruitful collaborative record, Love This Giant. Marimbas add an exotic touch of cheer in the song’s whimsical arrangements, and this track really lets the sunshine in.
“When We are Singing” is another solid offering, where lush strings dial up a retro 70s drama to Byrne’s perspective. Instrumental breaks give Ghost Train Orchestra an opportunity to shine. In the outro, Byrne sings a silly, word-less vocal that embraces the absurdity of the act of singing itself… It's bizarre and perfectly Byrne.
“My Apartment is My Friend” is a brilliant song that details our relationships with our living spaces. This standout track taps into Byrne’s notorious creative genius more than other tracks, and the song's very elaborate instrumental and tight arrangements significantly elevate his vision. If you replaced the orchestra with some dry electric guitar and funky bass, this song could shine brightly on an early Talking Heads album. But honestly, that would do the song a disservice, as the orchestral drama juxtaposed with Byrne's peculiar approach is truly fascinating. It’s a total knockout cut— pure magic. “A Door Called No” details Byrne’s personal revelation of ditching pessimism in favor of optimism, after a kiss– everything is “yes” from that movement forward. Much like “Everybody Laughs”, it's a charming and wholesome affair, among many on this record.
“What Is The Reason For It?” finds Ghost Train orchestra stealing the show with a cinematic mariachi flair and features a contribution from Paramore singer, Hayley Williams— who sounds fantastic per usual. On paper, it may seem like an overly poppy feature choice, but she doesn’t sound out of place. In fact, she sounds right at home, considering Annie Clark’s sultry vocal delivery became a regular thing to be paired into Byrne’s late solo-career music with 2012’s Love This Giant. The real curveball on this track is the cartoonish, brassy-mariachi style direction, but it’s so expertly delivered by Ghost Train Orchestra that it all works– it sounds very built for the stage, a-la American Utopia.
Who is the Sky? album art. out everywhere September 5th
“I Met the Buddha at a Downtown Party” is a goofy number about Buddha overindulging in sweets. At its core, it’s a perhaps too-silly romp from such a smart guy, but the song's orchestral arrangements shine so brightly that it brings life into the story. “Don’t Be Like That” falls slightly to the wayside among many other standouts; but it is charming and tuneful enough to warrant its simple concept. “Avante Garde”, on the other hand, is a significant standout– it spends a considerable amount of time harping on dissonant, circus-style instrumentals that live up to the title. When the beat drops, it moves into an incredible, off-kilter funk-strut similar to Love This Giant’s “Who” (I wouldn't be surprised if St Vincent was behind this riff). The choruses are classic Byrne, and it’s largely one of the best offerings, with cheeky lyrics like “It’s deceptively weighty, profoundly absurd / It’s whatever fits / It's the avant garde / And it doesn’t mean shit / It’s the avant garde.”
Much like “I Met Buddha…”, the following track “Moisturizing Thing” is another silly romp, but it’s a bit more appealing. Byrne tells a story where he uses moisturizer and wakes up with a 3 year old-looking face. It’s an over the top number, but it's amusing enough for a very good time.
“She Explains Things To Me” feels a bit closer to a Beatles-esque moment than anything on the record, and while Byrne often feels from another planet with his creativity, this song displays his humanity in a fresh way. “I’m An Outsider” moves with classic Byrne flair, and “The Truth” is a solid closer with some strange, orchestral reggaeton vibes; the album's instrumental styles are very broad, but Byrne’s cohesive and theatrical through-line makes it all work.
David Byrne releases records that significantly detail his bold imagination, and they are always well worth exploring. With its lighter approach, Who Is The Sky? is very appreciated during a time in the world when folks could use a little playful escapism. There is a broadway-esque fanfare to the tunes here that would translate incredibly well to an American Utopia-esque live show that Byrne could run till 2028 if he so pleased– and it would absolutely kill.
In his late solo career, David Byrne continues to keep his listeners on their toes with his imagination, his peculiar insight, and by asking important questions. On Who is the Sky?, Byrne isn't necessarily trying to underline how clever he is (as one might hope), but he is sure as hell extending the joyous parade of fun and the vivid artistry that his American Utopia show brought to many adoring audiences. His optimism and unique perspective on Who is the Sky? goes a long way, and this joyous affair preserves and extends the high quality of his late solo-career output.
Occult Highlights: My Apartment is My Friend, Avant Garde, When We Are Singing, Everybody Laughs, A Door Called No
(…but we recommend you spin the whole thing as you ponder the most peculiar questions about life)