David Byrne, Lead Us Not into Temptation

Fairly or not, the words “David Byrne solo record” suggest inconsistency and pretension as much as clever musicianship. But the ex-Talking Head leader’s latest, a soundtrack to the new film based on the novel by Scottish Beat writer Alexander Trocchi, is worth overcoming any low expectations. Scotland-born himself, Byrne assembled a backing band made up of members of Hibernian emo bands including Belle & Sebastian and Mogwai, and the results are often intriguing. Though it’s 1) a soundtrack album that’s 2) written according to what Byrne calls a “John Cagian indeterminacy,” this is by no means a dull record. Quiet and low-key, yes, but Byrne’s songs strike a balance between Enoesque ambience, Forest-era orchestral work, and noirish jazz. Much of Temptation would fit well next to Angelo Badalamenti’s swinging work for Twin Peaks, including a slinky version of Charles Mingus’s “Haitian Fight Song.” (You might have to wait a year or so for a “proper” new Byrne disc, but in the meantime you could also check out his other new art project: a DVD of PowerPoint slides set to music. Yeah, sounds boring to us too. Sorry, David.)