Here Lies Love,Nonesuch, **

Some releases induce salivation simply due to their intriguing list of ticked boxes. Here we have an Ex-Talking Heads frontman, a one-time Big Beat figurehead, a concept album (sorry, "song cycle") about Imelda Marcos, and a troupe of A-list female guest singers.

Tracing the life of the former First Lady Imelda of the Philippines is an unlikely hook, but given Byrne and Cook's combined musical cred you want to believe they can pull it off. Florence Welch convinces us they have on the title track, but from there it's a frustrating, uneven experience.

Where's the vim? The Filipino rhythms? It's hard to pick out the energy and style of either musician in this odd musical confluence, and many tracks dabble in anaemic, MOR pop that wastes Camille, Martha Wainwright and St Vincent. Oddly disappointing. See nonesuch.com

Download Tracks: Here Lies Love