#198 - David Bowie - Low

In the lead up to our 200th episode, we thought it’d be fun to do three episodes based on the original premise for the show. We’ll each present an album over the next three episodes that we think should be heard and appreciated.

It’s Jay’s turn at the helm and he brings us an album that, over the past 10 years, has increasingly fascinated and impressed him. It’s not at album that reaches out and grabs you at first, but David Bowie’s 1977 album Low has become one of his most revered albums. Recorded in Berlin alongside Brian Eno, side A features seven avant-pop songs, influenced by German bands like Tangerine Dream & Kraftwork. Side B is a collection of mostly instrumental compositions by Brian Eno. It, at every turn, defies expectations of a what a 1970s David Bowie album should sound like and, to some extent, that’s the point. Bowie’s mastery and manipulation of the concept of celebrity is turned inward as he struggles to kick his drug habits and absorbs the mood of cold-war Berlin. If you’re into Bowie or want to know why drums sounded the way they did in the 80s, then you should check it out.

Songs:

• Iggy Pop - “Sister Midnight”

• David Bowie - “Speed of Life”

• David Bowie - “Breaking Glass”

• David Bowie - “Sound and Vision”

• David Bowie - “Be My Wife”

• David Bowie - “A New Career in a New Town”

• David Bowie - ”Warszawa”

• David Bowie - “Weeping Wall”

• David Bowie - “Subterraneans”