David Bowie, still the meister

David Bowie’s always been pioneer and it’s rather fitting that unveiling of his 26th album, ‘Reality’, is live performance of the entire album, simulcast to cinemas across Europe, delayed in Asia and Australia and showing on the 15th inst. in North America. Playing-for-cameras in front of fans may not be the first (Bon Jovi did the same thing last year) but it was the premier broadcast in 5.1 SurroundSound system.

Bowie and the band came onstage ahead of time to check the sound levels for cameras and toyed around with different tunes, including ‘Rumble’ by Link Wray, of which he commented we’d not know because it had been part of his teenagehood. Well, aging, coming to terms with it and death are the main themes on ‘Reality’ the band performed in running order. It could also be that the disc is his reaction to the cultured blandness we are exposed to daily.

La Bowie handles this ‘Reality’ with his usual effortless style, be it (pop-) rock moderne (‘New Killer Star’, ‘She’ll Drive The Big Car’, title track), more sedate (orchestral expanse on ‘Try Some, Buy Some’, a cover of George Harrison’s cut), ballady ‘Days’ and superb ‘The Loneliest Guy’ that is pensive, fragile and closely related to the pathos of ‘Warszawa’ (‘Low’, 1977). Then, there’s the surprising: the upbeat feel of downbeat themed ‘Never Get Old’, ‘Pablo Picasso’ (Jonathan Richmond’s cover) sporting a very interesting Spanish guitar break or the epic closer.

‘Bring Me The Disco King’ is spacious, spartan, narrative and totally magnetic. (This song, remodelled by Maynard James Keenan of Tool and John Frusciante of Red Hot Chili Peppers, is also on the ‘Underworld’ soundtrack to add more cyber-genic feel to the mix.) One of the most curious lines in the song is “Killing time in the 70s” which is as much about the song’s character, an ironic remark as it is a reference to his illegally fuelled past. As he once noted, “We are arriving and departing at the same time.”

Following the presentation of the album, the ‘Rock-chameleon’ subjected himself to some Q&A from around Europe, hosted by TV’s talking-head Jonathan Ross, and insightful enquires including one about his dog, inspiration for the ‘Thin White Duke’ image and few other nuggets such as what are his current influences. Ey, moron – life, all together! The band reassembled for three favourite tracks as voted by fans on his website: the top choice being ‘Hang On To Yourself’.

Bowie – looking trim for his 56 years of debauchery (not as slim as Jagger, mind) – is still as soigné as ever in an asymmetrical jacket dispensed with few songs into the set; the band’s finale were four additional songs that ended with the new single and album’s opener, ‘New Killer Star’. This ’45-er’ will be issued as a DVD-only single on 29 Sept. and will be backed by a version of Sigue Sigue Sputnik’s ‘Love Missile F1-11’ and a brief interview about making the new album.

In about 2 hours Bowie simply confirmed that he’s still the master of sound and vision.
* [Tix #322]
‘Reality’ tracklisting: New Killer Star - Pablo Picasso - Never Get Old - Looking For Water - She’ll Drive The Big Car – Days - Fall Dog Bombs The Moon - Try Some, Buy Some – Reality - Bring Me The Disco King