I s’pose that it’s not surprising that Zun Zun Egui will be compared to Talking Heads. The band’s herky-jerky melodies recall that band’s fascination with “world music,” and lead singer Kushal Gaya does have a style that’s similar to David Byrne. But their debut album Katang is really something more than that; it is an enigmatic record containing music that is both earthly and electronic. There are joyous praises (“Cowboy”), there are jaunty little dance numbers (“Fandango Fresh,” “Heart in a Jar”), and there are ballads (“Dance of the Chickens,” “Sirocco”). Gaya sings in a multitude of languages and most of the time I’m not really sure which language he’s singing in; his voice is an instrument that blends into a greater whole. It’s an odd blend, this, one that may initially require a little more patience, but patience will only reward the listener with a vibrant, sunny, and all-natural sound that warms the soul on subsequent listens.
