Low (David Bowie)

A (relatively) in-depth analysis of the 1977 album 'Low' by David Bowie in (just under) fifteen minutes. In this episode I am in discussion with Dr. Andrew Webber.

Bowie's eleventh album is an art/experimental record influenced by German bands such as Tangerine Dream, Neu!, Harmonia and Kraftwerk, Low features Bowie's first explorations in electronic and ambient styles. Side one consists primarily of short, direct avant-pop song-fragments, with mostly downbeat lyrics and side two comprises longer, mostly instrumental tracks, conveying musical observations of Berlin. Producer Tony Visconti created the distinctive drum sound using an Eventide H910 Harmonizer, a pitch-shifting device.

Bowie's school friend, George Underwood designed the album cover. As with the artwork for Station to Station, it features a re-worked still from The Man Who Fell to Earth. The album cover has been parodied on many occasions, including the sleeve of Nick Lowe's 1977 album ‘Bowi’ as well as in posters and prints featuring Kylo Ren from Star Wars and Loki from Marvel.

Low was released on compact disc for the first time in the mid-1980s. A 1991 Rykodisc CD release by contained three bonus tracks, including a remix of Sound and Vision and the outtakes Some Are and All Saints. EMI then released the 1991 edition in the UK on CD, Cassette and LP. In 2017, the album was remastered for Parlophone's A New Career in a New Town (1977–1982) box set, released in CD, vinyl and digital formats. The set includes Bowie's 'Berlin Trilogy', over eleven compact discs or thirteen LPs - the box attracted criticism by fans and music reviewers.

This is Episode 24 of Season 3 (and one of over 100 other episodes). I would like to say a huge thank you to the overwhelming number of listeners and followers over the past two years as the Low Noise podcast continues to evolve in its own inimitable way. I truly appreciate all your interest and support.

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Mathew Woodall

The introduction to this episode features an excerpt from 'Ma' from the album 'Asimov' by Inafer Era. Thank you to Auden and Meah.