David Bowie: Low R.C.A.

David Bowie has earned a reputation as one of rock's most flamboyant and influential forces. From the days of the ageless Space Oddity, through concepts concerning Ziggy Stardust and the Orwell inspired Diamond Dogs the man now follows his restrained but masterly Station to Station with an album titled simply Low.

Once again it is a new approach for Bowie moving into the surreal, synthesised world so worthily inhabitated by King Crimson, Yes, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Eno and at times, Todd [unclear: Rundgren].

Eno, the avant garde synthesiser exponent contributes to this album and it is now very clear just how highly Bowie regarded Eno's album Another Green World. While Bowie writes all the material (excepting two collaborations) there can be no denying the influence Eno has on this album and naturally on Bowie.

Side One is the more recognisable Bowie containing some definite Station to Station links. The finest track, arguably, is "Be My Wife" featuring some intricate guitar from a generally average Ricky Gardener. "Always Crashing In The Same Car" "Speed Of Life" and "A New Career In A New Town" are all excellent tracks from a very satisfying twenty minutes.

Side Two is the more experimental and perhaps, the more cerebral side with Eno and Bowie counting the opening track: the peerless "Warzawa". The only instruments used are synthezizers and piano all played by Eno. Bowie's, voice takes on new extremes with ethereal harmonising and wailing to create an over-hanging spiritual effect. "Art Decade" and "Weeping Wall" (all instrumentation by Bowie) lead into the closing number "Subterrareans a complex song featuring among other things some fine [unclear: sexophone] by Bowie himself.

I have admiration for Bowie because of his decision to experiment with his music in what is going to be a non-commercial way. The sales of this record will probably not reach Ziggy Star-dust/Aladdin Sane proportions but Bowie is now obviously placing the music above all other considerations.

There are reservations to be made about this album and the most obvious one is the lack of a gentune lead guitarist. Carlos Alxnar maintains the rhythm sensibly enough. But on lead Ricky Gardiner is usually found wanting. It is worth noting that Bowie wanted Robert Fripp (guitarist and leader of King Crimson) for this album but unfortunately Fripp was unavailable and I feel the music suffers accordingly,. Perhaps Bowie now regrets his dismissal of Earl Slick his previous guitarist.

That apart, however, this is an extremely fine album—well worth listening too by those people into Bowie and who appreciate progression from album to album and also recommended for Eno followers.

—Colin Williams.

Record kindly supplied by Colin Morris Records, 54 The Terrace