Brian Eno is MORE DARK THAN SHARK

INTERVIEWS, REVIEWS & RELATED ARTICLES

Mojo FEBRUARY 2008 - by David Buckley

DAVID BOWIE: OUTSIDE / EARTHLING / HOURS... / HEATHEN / REALITY BOX-SET

Reissued contemporary Bowie with bonus tracks galore (but no real rarities).

The received wisdom, of course, is that Bowie has made nothing really groundbreaking since 1980's Scary Monsters, by these five albums contain plenty of evidence to the contrary. 1995's Outside, produced by Brian Eno, is a fan favourite and rightly so. It's often simply stunning - a mad, dark fusion of rock, techno, and noir-ish balladry. The follow-up, 1997's Earthling, dared to mix rock melodies with jungle and still zings out the speakers. 1999's '...Hours' saw a less radical musical language, yet Thursday's Child still sounds like it should have been a massive single. Reunited with producer Tony Visconti, the statesman-like Heathen contains some classic pieces of Bowie pop with Slip Away and 5.15, though Reality sounds underwritten despite some deft moments. This set will surprise those who dared write the man off.