David Bowie Heathen (180 Gram Br

This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.
Personnel includes: David Bowie (vocals, guitar, saxophone, keyboards, stylophone, drums); Kristeen Young (vocals, piano); Tony Visconti (guitar, recorder, bass, background vocals); Mark Plati (guitar, bass); David Torn (guitar, omnichord, loops); Pete Townshend, Dave Grohl, Carlos Alomar, Gerry Leonard (guitar); Lisa Germano (violin); Jordan Ruddess (keyboards); Tony Levin (bass); Matt Chamberlain (drums, percussion, programming); Sterling Campbell (drums, percussion).
The Scorchio Quartet: Greg Kitzis, Meg Okura (violin); Martha Mooke (viola); Mary Wooten (cello).
The Borneo Horns: Lenny Pickett, Stan Harrison, Steve Elson.
Recorded at Allaire Studios, Shokan, New York and Looking Glass Stuidos, New York, New York.
"Slow Burn" was nominated for the 2003 Grammy Awards for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.
There's more than a hint of things turning full circle in the 21st century's first original David Bowie full- length album. On HEATHEN, Bowie not only reunites with co-producer Tony Visconti, but within the first 15 minutes references his '70s hit "Heroes" in the suitably smoldering "Slow Burn," and turns around late co-conspirator John Lennon's "God" in "Afraid" ("I believe in Beatles"). Bowie wisely gives himself the space to toy with old R&B rhythms and weighty, pre-punk guitar riffs, juxtaposing Bjork-like string sections with looped rock drums and hissing synth backgrounds on "I Would Be Your Slave," while coyly harking back to his Ziggy Stardust persona on "I Took a Trip on a Gemini Spaceship."
"A Better Future" features a chirpy '60s arrangement underlying the sort of fallout-saturated pop ditty that might one day become a favorite of the protagonists of "Drive-in Saturday." As you might expect from a Bowie/Visconti collaboration, the production is both high-tech and down-and-dirty--one minute all overloaded mics and booming drums, the next all chiming synths and breathy backing vocals. Featuring smartly chosen guests Pete Townshend and Dave Grohl, HEATHEN is a righteous return to form from an erratic but consistently intriguing pop master.

• Genre: Rock
• Format: Vinyl