David Bowie

Blackstar

ISO Records

Bowie’s death was a tragic loss to the music world but this, his swansong, can be treasured as an example of an artist who never stuck to a winning formula. He was always pushing his musical boundaries and continued to re-invent himself on a regular basis, so it will come as no surprise that this album offers a new angle to his repertoire. That’s quite a tall order when you consider that this is his 25th studio release and while it definitely borders on jazz, it’s not quite like anything else you’ve heard. As with many previous albums, the guitar work breaks new boundaries but is less prominent than we’re used to getting from Bowie. While the mood of the opening title track is melancholy and the vocal mournful, the mood picks up as you progress through. The guitar work from Ben Monder on I Can’t Give Everything Away is something really special. Not the easiest Bowie album to get into but well worth the effort.