Recording information: Atlantic Studios, New York, NY (05/1989-07/1989); Right Track Recording Studios, New York, NY (05/1989-07/1989).

Unknown Contributor Roles: Milton Cardona; Charlie Santiago; Santiago Pasqual; Jose Mangual Jr.; Luis Manuel.

David Byrne's first release after the breakup of the Talking Heads is not only a logical progression from their final album, NAKED, it's his first truly pop-oriented solo work. (THE CATHERINE WHEEL was a dance score, and MUSIC FROM THE KNEE PLAYS a collaboration with avant-garde composer Robert Wilson based on New Orleans second-line music.)

Built on his recent fondness for Latin and Afro-Cuban musical styles (Byrne founded the Brazilophilic Luaka Bop label around this time as well), REI MOMO is half music lesson--the liner notes explain which songs are sambas, cumbias, etc.--and half late-period Talking Heads album. The combination works surprisingly well, with the highlight being the witty "Make Believe Mambo," co-starring Kirsty MacColl, who would later make her own album of Latinate pop, 2000's TROPICAL BRAINSTORM. This track and others sound so much like tunes from NAKED that clearly Byrne simply didn't need the Heads anymore.