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David Bowie - Heroes CD (album) cover

HEROES

David Bowie

 

Prog Related

4.08 | 478 ratings

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ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer
4 stars ROBERT FRIPP. JUST FOR ONE DAY.

This album is the most "Berlin oriented" of the whole trilogy. Fully recorded on site. A famous guest guitarist will come over for one day and record all his parts. Mr. Robert Fripp himself! So, now we have both Fripp and Eno on a single album. Not too bad, right?

This album is almost a commercial failure in the US (not reaching the top thirty) but it was well received in the UK (Nr. 3). One of the RCA executive (Stephen Weltman) will find the best words to promote the album: "There is new wave, there is old wave, and there is Bowie".

Some reminiscence of prior albums are noticeable on "Heroes". "Black Out" for instance which reflects the daunting New York black out which left the city in the dark for almost twenty-four hours in July 1977.

The best song of this album is without any doubt the title track. A love story, which is very rare during Bowie's career (the previous one being "Letter To Hermione" on his second album ("David Bowie/Space Oddity).

"I can remember, Standing by the wall. And the guns shot above our heads. And we kissed as though nothing could fall. And the shame was on the other side"

My second fave from this album is the oppressive "Sense Of Doubt". A wonderful replica of "Subterraneans" from "Low". A wonderfully icy mood extricates itself from it. A highlight simply based on a few and repetitive notes but again so desperate, so emotional, so moving.

It flows nicely into the ambient "Moss Garden" during which David is playing a Japanese traditional instrument (the koto). A tranquil piece of music, a fine transition to another highlight and again, very much "Subterraneans" oriented song. The magnificent "Neuköln". The final sax part is incredibly sad and touching. A desperate call. Wonderful.

The closing number is a more traditional Bowie song. "The Secret Life of Arabia" could have sit on "Station To Station". Bowie said afterwards, that this last song was a filler. Maybe because it breaks the global mood of the album.

This album doesn't have the same taste than "Low". I was disappointed at the time of release and I still have a mixed bag feeling about it. Definitely a good album, on the edge of three/four stars. Seven out of ten, if I could. But I'll upgrade it.

ZowieZiggy | 4/5 |

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