STATION TO STATION

One of Bowie's best. Not his progiest album but one of his most consistent. Bowie was doing so much cocaine at the time that he literally does not remember recording this album. In the title track he says: "It's not the side effects of the cocaine". Yes David, it is. It's a shame he doesn't remember recording one of his best albums. Maybe he would have some interesting things to say about the writing and recording process of Station To Station.

This album does not sound like either it's predecessor Young Americans, or the follow-up Low. Somehow it sounds a little like both at the same time. The 10-minute "Station To Station" begins with what sounds like a train. I think it's really a sequencer part put through a flanging effect. Some piano, guitar and bass follow. When the drums kick in there is a nice groove. The parts with "the return of..." have a nice guitar arpeggio. When it gets to the part that goes "Once there was mountains..." the song is in funky prog mode. Or proggy funk mode if you like. Starting with the "It's too late..." part it goes into disco-rock territory. Some great piano and guitar before the "it's not the side effects..." comes back again.

"Golden Years" was originally written for Elvis Presley(he can remember that much anyway). It's one of the best songs here. Love the finger-snaps and handclaps. Some whistling near the end. "Word On A Wing" is the weakest song of the bunch. A mediocre ballad. "TVC15" is one of the most interesting songs Bowie ever did. The lyrics are about some evil TV from the future, I think. It starts with some honky-tonk piano. The verses and chorus are so different they could have come from two different songs. During the verses you hear some Fripp-like guitar. This was before the Frippster worked with the Thin Cokehead Duke.

"Stay" is another highlight. Great proggy funk-rock. It features the Chamberlin which was the American-made precursor to the British-made Mellotron. The bongos/congas are a nice touch. "Wild Is The Wind" is the obligatory cover song; one of Bowie's best covers. Overall a great album from the 1970s but might not appeal to every prog fan. 3 stars.