David Byrne and Fatboy Slim’s star-studded collaborative concept album about the life of Imelda Marcos may sound strange, but it’s no less stunning for it.
Featuring a staggering list of guest vocalists that includes Santigold, Tori Amos, Nellie McKay, Florence Welch, St. Vincent, Cyndi Lauper, Róisín Murphy, Sia, and Sharon Jones, the double-disc set plays like a stage show minus the stage, telling the story of the former Filipino first lady’s rise and fall — often through lyrics based on her own words.
The deluxe edition of Here Lies Love is packaged in a 120-page cloth-bound book packed with photos and backstory, along with a DVD featuring videos for six tracks made up of archival footage. The project has been in development for five years, since Byrne initially visited the Philippines with the idea, and a theatrical version is currently in the works at New York’s Public Theater.
Visit the official Here Lies Love site, read an in-depth Times Online feature about the project, get a free download of “Please Don’t,” order the double-disc album
or the full deluxe edition
, and if you’re in NYC next week, have Byrne sign your copy in person.
“Please Don’t” (featuring Santigold)
