David Byrne and Brian Eno's 1981 album "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts" changed pop music forever. The "vocals" weren't conventional pop- or rock-music vocals at all; instead they consisted of "found" voices such as those of radio personalities, Arabic singers and even an exorcist.
In other words, "Ghosts" represented one of the earliest forms of sampling, though neither Byrne or Eno (or anyone else) was calling it that back then. It was an edgy, eerie, and yes, ghostly collection of music.
So 27 years went by, and then, in 2008, Byrne and Eno finally released their follow-up collaboration, "Everything That Happens Will Happen Today." Yet the successor to "Ghosts" could not have been more different. Where "Ghosts" was icy," "Everything" is warm. "Ghosts" was menacing, "Everything" is inviting. And so on.
Most notably, "Everything" features standard vocals; former Talking Heads frontman Byrne sings these songs while Eno provides most of the instrumentation. The duo has referred to this disc as "electronic gospel," but in my opinion there are just as many influences from soul music and R&B.
Whatever it is, "Everything" is gorgeous. "Home" sports a lush melody and an aching for the comforts of the castle, yet all is not as it should be here. "Home," Byrne sings, "where the wheels are turning / Home ... why I keep returning." But then there's the line "Home ... were my parents telling the truth," suggesting that this whole idea of a truly safe zone may be just a generational myth.
From the bouncy "Life Is Long" to the more ethereal sound of "Strange Overtones," these melodies get into your head and want to stay there. On more than one occasion I've listened to this album two or three times in succession. The neighbors may not like it -- but hey, it' s my home.