artist: David Bryne & Brian Eno country of origin: USA/UK style(s): World beat, entho-ambient, art rock essential releases: My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts (1981, Sire)

This one-off album from 1981 is a bizarre but thoroughly engaging exercise in world beat from Byrne of the group Talking Heads and the ever innovative Brian Eno.

My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts is a potpourri of funk, ambient textures and ethnic sounds in what’s more or less a rock context, combined with a variety of found sounds and samples taken from ethnic records and American radio. “Help Me Somebody” cleverly samples the voice of a ranting radio evangelist, while “Qu’ran” and “Regiment” likewise integrate Moslem chants and singing into what are otherwise instrumental tracks.

As an exercise in free-for-all sampling and fusion without regard for creed, colour or genre boundaries - especially in the way it uses found sounds rhythmically - the album is a glimpse forward to the coming age of hip hop music, digital sampling and the mad eclecticism that would distinguish a good deal electronically produced music in the decades to come. At times amusing, at others downright peculiar, it’s inspired, sharply executed and hugely entertaining.

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