David Byrne has unveiled a new track titled ‘The Avant Garde’.
The iconic songwriter is making his return with a new album, also named ‘The Avant Garde’, scheduled for release on September 5th. This will be his first album since 2018's ‘American Utopia’ and will be accompanied by a world tour.
Byrne has just offered a preview of the song ‘The Avant Garde’, which serves as a clever criticism of the art-for-art's-sake debate.
He describes the sound as “Led Zeppelin meets Dirty Projectors,” and honestly, who are we to dispute a figure of his caliber? This lively art-rock piece, infused with a theatrical aspect, feels reminiscent of a Brecht & Weill composition reimagined for the 21st century.
With a playful tone, David Byrne sings: “It’s ahead of the curve / it’s deceptively weighty, profound, absurd / it’s whatever fits…”
In a statement, David Byrne remarks…
Some may interpret this as David criticizing his friends, but the reality is more complex. Anyone familiar with me knows I attend numerous performances that could be labeled avant-garde or experimental. Edgy and unconventional art greatly inspires me, often reshaping my perspectives and influencing my work (without simply taking the ideas, I trust).
That being said, attempting something untested and drastically new can be a gamble. Occasionally, as with any high-stakes endeavor, it might not achieve its intended impact. There’s no assurance that it will fulfill its purpose, but when it does, the emotional and intellectual benefits are invaluable. This is the gamble involved in creating something novel and unconventional.
So yes, there are instances when it falls flat, but often there are moments when something entirely original emerges, making it worthwhile. I appreciate how the Ghost Train team and Kid Harpoon transformed what could have been a fairly standard song I composed (at least musically) into something that sounds to me like Led Zeppelin meets Dirty Projectors.
Tune in now.
Photo Credit: Shervin Lainez
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David Byrne has released a new track titled 'The Avant Garde'. The iconic songwriter is returning with a new album, also named 'The Avant Garde', which is scheduled to drop on September 5th.