David Bowie: ChangesNowBowie
This is a streaming-only release made available in 2020, and is made up of session recordings cut in 1997. They are all most appealing, beautifully gentle acoustic (mostly) and bass versions with Gail Ann Dorsey's melodic bass the highlight of every track. Reeves Gabrels and Mark Plati contribute guitar and keyboards respectively.
The Man Who Sold The World is a wonderfully understated and hauntingly entrancing version as indeed is Aladdin Sane. I can't emphasise enough just how great the bass is and the acoustic guitar is crystal clear too. The vocal interplay between Bowie and the lovely-voiced Dorsey is stunning. The great thing about Bowie's songs is that, however, familiar one may be with the original, an alternative version is always intriguing, such is the strength of his compositions. Mark Plati tries to emulate Mike Garson's iconic piano bit with a modicum of success.
Gabrels comes to the party with some fuzzy, rocking guitar on White Light/White Heat which rocks from beginning to end with an enthusiastic Bowie on fire vocally. Great stuff, I have to say.
Tin Machine's Shopping For Girls features some mysterious guitar parts and another very convincing vocal.
Lady Stardust, that lovely old blast from the past, is given a haunting makeover, while from even further back comes The Supermen, which is delivered in razor sharp acoustic, bass and drum style. It positively bristles with updated vitality. I love it.
The lyrically disturbing Repetition, from 1979's Lodger, is played with a nice subtle drum sound and more cutting acoustics. Once again, it is a marvellous incarnation of the song. Fascinating.
Andy Warhol was always so acoustically sharp and duly it is so again.
The beguiling Quicksand would seem to be tailor-made for this type of recreation and it duly proves to be the case, with a lovely Spanish guitar rendering this a "must hear" version.
Get hold of this if you can.
