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David Bowie: “All Saints”
From the album Low (1977, rereleased 1991)
In 1977 David Bowie released Low and Heroes, the first two installments of his so-called “Berlin trilogy,” the third being 1979’s Lodger. The second half of both Low and Heroes are dominated by instrumental electronic tracks, composed by Bowie in close collaboration with Brian Eno. Taken together, Bowie’s electronic works from this period are unparalleled in their production quality and expressive depth.
This music occupies a unique space, perched between the sincere futuristic hopefulness of the post-WWII decades and the ironic-dystopian view of modernity that began to dominate western culture in the 70s and 80s. Some tracks, such as “V-2 Schneider,” echo the upbeat motoric sound of German “Krautrock” bands such as Neu! and Kraftwerk (whose member Florian Schneider is referenced in the song’s title). “Weeping Wall” unites a constant, metronomic beat with eerie fragments of electronic guitar, synthesizers, and vocals, while in “All Saints” (recorded in 1976 but not released until 1991) the pulse takes on a decidedly minatory tone that anticipates the “industrial” aesthetic of the 1980s.
Fortunately for people of bizarre musical predilections such as myself, in 2001 Bowie released a compilation of his electronic music entitled All Saints. Though not exhaustive, this is an excellent collection of Bowie’s more experimental ventures, and it’s quite convincing as a stand-alone album.
Played 34 time(s).
March 16, 2009, 11:31am
