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The ShortListen: David Bowie (no. 223)

Second track revealed from Blackstar

The ShortListen: David Bowie (no. 223)
18 December 2015

Who? David Bowie

What’s the story? If the title track of Bowie forthcoming 26th studio album Blackstar hadn't convinced you that we were looking at a more avant-garde record than last one The Next Day, then this track, Lazarus, should settle any doubts. It's a magisterial, unhurried six and a half minutes of lyrical musings, ("I’m so high it makes my brain whirl/Dropped my cell phone down below/Ain’t that just like me"), beautiful-sounding shuffling drums and some lovely languid bass playing. All the while dystopian saxes parp away and scuzzy guitars blast in and out while the song just wallows in its own sound. It's not exactly going to get Radio 1 A-list, but then who cares - the album promises to be a beautiful puzzle to unpick at our leisure, and there are precious few of those around these days.

For fans of: Of course, David Bowie

In three words: Avant-garde journey

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Listen to all of them as they become available, on this Spotify Playlist