David Byrne

The former leader of new wave icons Talking Heads, David Byrne's solo work may not have had the commercial impact of his old band's records, but it has been just as explorative. Byrne's obsession with global rhythms (see the Samba-fied '89 release Rei Momo), combined with his unusual vocal range (which alternates between yelping nervousness and a sort of cold melodic soul) and adventurous instrumentation has led to a critically successful solo career, spanning the fourth-world soundscapes of his 1981 collaboration with Brian Eno, My Life in the Bush Of Ghosts to albums like In Spite of Wishing and Wanting, a soundtrack of sorts produced for the Belgian dance company Ultima Vez.