The Next Day

On David Bowie's 66th birthday, he gave us all a present. He released the video clip to a new single, Where Are We Now?, his first release of original music in nearly ten years. After suffering a heart attack in Germany during his Reality tour in 2004, Bowie disappeared from the public eye. He basically vanished, and save for one or two live appearances or paparazzi snaps, we didn't see the man! I remember seeing a tweet from his account citing Lou Reed's collaboration with Metallica was hugely inspiring for him. Something along the lines of Bowie expressing that he was pretty much content with retired life until Reed 'inspired the hell out of him'. 

Some time after that tweet, he released a new single and video, and the news of a full album to follow in March. This would be his 24th studio album, and his first one since 2003's Reality. Today marks eight years since The Next Day was released, with a bizarre cover that utilised the artwork of "Heroes" and a little bit of redacting. I'm not sure what was behind the usage of the 1977 album. Was it hinting that this record was going to be a continuation of the Berlin trilogy sonic landscape? Or was it a signal to ignore the past recordings and take it as something new? 

To me, this album sounds like a continuation of the fine work he did with the Heathen and Reality releases in the early 2000s. Indeed, most of the musicians who played on those albums and the subsequent Reality

tour are here. Bowie's touring MD and guitarist Gerry Leonard plays on most tracks, as does bassist/vocalist Gail Ann Dorsey. Drummer Stirling Campbell only contributes to two tracks, with former Bowie band alumni Zack Alford picking up the majority of the (drum)sticks. Earl Slick plays guitar on a few tracks, but David Thorn loops the strings for most of the album. Producer Tony Visconti also contributes guitar, bass guitar and recorder(!), and legendary bassist Tony Levin appears on three songs too. Longtime Bowie collaborator Mike Garson is auspiciously absent, with Henry Hey playing piano on a couple of tracks, and Bowie himself handling most of the keyboard work. 

The album starts off with a bang, as the title track not so much starts, but launches. Bowie is asserting his return in no uncertain terms: "Here I am/Not quite dying/My body left to rot in a hollow tree" while the band crunches through a near-perfect three and half minute pop/rock single. The video accompanying this song is also quite odd, featuring Gary Oldman and Marion Cotillard.  

Other singles released from the album are all quite strong too. Valentine's Day looks inside the mind of a mass murderer without pity or glorification and final release Love Is Lost is another tight pop/rock track. The second single The Stars (Are Out Tonight) is a big highlight of the record as it examines the obsession some have with celebrities, featuring Tilda Swinton its video. 

Getting back to that first single, Where Are We Now?, I can remember watching it for the first time. It's a lovely song, and the simple, slow introspective feel resonates with me strongly. By the time Bowie gets to the last few lines I start welling up a little: 

"As long as there's sun/As long as there's sun

As long as there's rain/As long as there's rain

As long as there's fire/As long as there's fire

As long as there's me/As long as there's you..."

I can also remember the fervour on social media, Twitter especially, surrounding the new release. There was an excitement surging from the Bowie faithful...it was a Bowie birthday miracle!

After two months of waiting, I went and grabbed a copy of The Next Day as soon as it was released. Having spent as much time with it over the last couple of days as I did back then, I experienced great waves of nostalgia and excitement as I reconnected with the album. The first half of the record is very strong, and all five singles are housed there. Dirty Boys and If You Can See Me are a little weaker in comparison, particularly the former. 

The rest of The Next Day is certainly listenable, but nothing spectacular. Out of the last seven songs, I'd pick I'd Rather Be High and (You Will) Set the World on Fire as my favourites. If nothing else, this was an album many of us didn't expect to get. The return of David Bowie after a ten year lull was something special. Little did we know that he only had three years left on planet Earth.

I give this album 3/5 and I just listened to it again.

NEXT UP: Black Tie White Noise - 5th April