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David Byrne, Fatboy Slim: "Please Don't"

7:28 p.m. · January 19, 2010 · by Craig Hubert

David Byrne always manages to be in the middle of some oddball project. His choice of collaborator this time around, Fatboy Slim, is a familiar face -- they worked together on the DJ's BPA project in 2008, collaborating on the first single, "Toe Jam." The song also featured Dizzee Rascal, but became more well known for it's music video featuring creative ways to use the "black bar" censorship of nude bodies. Still, it did not reach the heights we expect from either of these artists.

So when we heard that the pair were working together again, this time on a concept-album based around the life of Imelda "Steel Butterfly" Marcos, widow of former Philippines dictator Ferdinand Marcos, we were, frankly, excited. This is just the sort of left-field project we expect from Byrne, and with a little more control over the content, we hoped he would bring out great things once again from Mr. Slim.

Today we get our first glimpse into the project, courtesy of "Please Don't." The track features Santigold taking the main vocal lines over a quick, percussion-laden bounce provided by Slim. The structure is reminiscent of mid-period Talking Heads, especially when Byrne rolls in with his staggering-funk guitar lines. 

Listen to the song over at Stereogum.