David Byrne – Who is the Sky? Review

He reinvented alternative art-rock with Talking Heads and tackled samba head-on afterwards, but David Byrne heads into his greatest challenge yet. Can we put a name to the sky? Probably not, but thanks for trying. The veteran performer has taken avant-garde musings and inescapable feelings of technological oversight into account for his latest studio album, Who is the Sky? It was not until the third single, The Avant Garde, that listeners got a true taste of Byrne’s purpose with this release. Everybody Laughs and She Explains Things to Me were affectionate, likeable offerings influenced all too much by the Reasons to be Cheerful project. Much of the album is moulded in the image of finding a way to smile through the tough times. It works far better as a full piece than it does in fragments. That wider context Who is the Sky? offers the lead single, for instance, is magnificent.  

We are too online. It may be embarrassing to hear yet another tech-fearing track of simplicity, but the straight-to-the-point tone Byrne takes is necessary. A light yet guiding hand through a worrying time of information overloads and dwindling inspiration. When We Are Singing does much the same, with Byrne offering some soft hints of musing on mortality. One foot in the pearly gates, but another half living and breathing in a creative world. Uniquely Byrne, that is the selling point for Who is the Sky? From the groaning at the end of When We Are Singing, a delightful song with tender depths, to the comfort of inanimate objects on My Apartment is My Friend, the influence of positivity is just a part, not the whole. Finding joy in the lighter side of Byrne’s writing is all part of the charm. He does not wish to hide the deeper meanings. It could not be clearer than on A Door Called No, a spirited song where change is found in your mood, not in those around you.  

Danceable bits of light material are Byrne’s speciality. Who is the Sky? is filled with this niceness, and his complete committal to love beating all is a wonderful touch in times of global crisis. Enlightenment for the obvious is a focus of these instrumentally light tracks. I Met The Buddha at a Downtown Party has the sweetness which inspires a friendly image in Byrne paired with a few cutting comments. Why do we poison ourselves? What is the purpose of carrying on? Who is the sky? It all comes together brilliantly. The singles did no justice to how strong a project this turned into for Byrne. Light, lovely comments on life backed with string sections and the occasional acoustic guitar. It’s nothing new, but it is remarkably special to hear it at work. Contemplations of ageing and mortality without the usual fear are what come through. Byrne is a performer who is simply delighted to be moving.  

As much can be heard on Moisturising Thing, a surprising but sweet knock at the desire to stay youthful. “It’s a fuckin’ cliché,” he warns. He’s right. Happiness is internal, and Who is the Sky? makes this clear. Exclusivity is not exceptional. Expense is not a reward. I’m an Outsider is a beautiful high point from Byrne, which asks listeners not to be content with what they have, but to be truly delighted. Who is the Sky? benefits from its light instrumental touch, the frequent string sections and shimmers which come from a place of love. Byrne offers nothing but that, even in moments which hear him hit out at the expectations of a social life using the internet as a crutch. A wonderful piece which shares Byrne’s flair for genres which others may avoid. Their fears are no match for Byrne’s desire to create with everything he can, something which can be heard so clearly on Who is the Sky? It’s a question only a listener can answer, and even then, it’s the abstract, avant-garde response which matters most.