Low – Berlin Trilogy Part 2
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‘Low’ the first official starting point to the Berlin trilogy shocked most Bowie fans when it came out. Drugs, drink and fame were making Bowie sick and Berlin was used as an escape to it all. Using Berlin to be isolated allowed Bowie to be more creative and see the reality again in life departing from his celebrity status.It also made him closer to his influences Kratwerk and Neu!. In an agreement with Eno to make a trilogy, the two began with ‘Low’.
With this album i often find side 1 more enjoyable. The first side has sharp songs that are catchy and filled with melody and electronic sound effects which all adds up to this image that i have thats its pop music for martians living on another planet.
The first side of the LP has the first single from the album ‘Sound And Vision’. It has the sound of the drug induced nature it was written in with the occasional Ahh’s sang wavy and angel like through out the song.
However also on the first side of the record has my personal favorite from the album, ‘Be My Wife’. The song has no electronic feel to it but more of a back to basics approach. Starting with a ragtime piano intro, Bowie begins to plea to [what I have read many Bowie biographers believe is] Angela Bowie on the last hope of saving his failing marriage at the time. This video was the first official Bowie video since ‘Life On Mars?’ and the two are very similar. Shot in a minimalist white background with Bowie singing along to the track – only this time the cocaine is evident. In my honest opinion Bowie looks like he was fallen apart due to drugs and his mood is somewhat hinted by the albums title, Low.
Eno’s input is more evident on the second side which is mainly filled with sound scapes of weird ambient sounds taken you away into a different atmosphere. This is proberbly because most were attended to be used in the film, The Man Who Fell To Earth staring Bowie in the lead role. It’s this second side of the LP that i believe is what shocked most of his loyal fans. ‘No commercial potential’ as Zappa would say to this experimental instrumental side which at the time was panned by critics.
‘Breaking Glass’ from the first side of LP reminds me of ‘Sister Midnight’ from Iggy Pop’s ‘The Idiot’ for its funky bass and simplistic guitar lick repeated over again. Here is a more energetic performance when compared to the album version live.
Low was ahead of its time and Bowies determination to be creative certainly comes across in each track causing it to be a arty experience.
The Man Who Fell To Earth
