Right then, a 22-track double set from Fatboy and the thin man, featuring Florence, Tori, Kate Pierson, Cyndi Lauper, Steve Earle, Roisin Murphy, Natalie Merchant, Martha Wainwright and many more, subtitled A Song Cycle about Imelda Marcos & Estrella Cumpas. A concept album about the relationship between the former first lady of the Philippines and her childhood servant, no less. As the poet said, brace yourself Bridget.
But if the pitch sounds like a tropicalian Evita, these boys know their beat science. The vibe is half Cuban dancefloor, half Studio 54 redux, but the quality, as you would imagine, varies wildly. Certain contributors have obviously been selected on account of their flair for the dramatic. The title tune, featuring Florence Welch, is sublime, as is ‘You’ll Be Taken Care Of’, with Ms Amos ably framed by Byrne. Nellie McKay channels Nancy Sinatra on the cute ‘Who Are You?’ and Steve Earle – the sole male cameo apart from Byrne himself – lends weight to the military drum-taps of ‘A Perfect Hand’. Ms Murphy channels Grace Jones on the metropolitan disco of ‘Don’t You Agree?’, while Theresa Andersson’s ‘Ladies In Blue’ is simply divine, darling.
There are duds of course. The further from the Latino groove it strays, the more MOR the results. Cyndi Lauper deserves better than the drab ‘Eleven Days’, and the wonderful Kate Pierson is tragically lumbered with ‘The Whole Man’, a rather flat dance track in search of a tune. Elsewhere, Allison Moorer and Charmaine Clamor sound badly miscast on ‘When She Passed By’ and ‘Walk Like A Woman’ respectively.
Here Lies Love could’ve benefitted from a stronger and stricter editorial hand. Inside this double album is a far more focused single set crying to get out.