HUNKY DORY

Definitively David Bowie's career masterpiece.

In the decade in which he set up a whole new wave in different terms -on how intimate and shameless songwriting could get; how to eventually fashion and look, ergo "glam" could be a complement to music, ergo "glam rock"; and finally how to combine all this with serious craft work and music, ergo getting into a stage to perform and don't make people laugh; by the contrary have a big impact on them (both musically and esthetically) and grab their totally full attention-, David Bowie precociously -this was his 3rd release- creates a timeless work, not only attached to its time -for which it was mirror and definer-, but also a hopefully future for songwriters post-Dylan.

Actually you can hear "Hunky Dory" right now and it will still sound fresh.

Not futuristic, but fresh, actual.

Part of this accomplishment is the fact that Bowie took clues and signs from his main influences -and pretty much solo artist teachers- and added to it his own style -the thin fragile kinda shame guy that takes a lot of courage to pull out truth from every verse-, creating a unique way of creation and interpretation and, on the way, making his first masterpiece at the age of 24.

See, if any doubt, 2 of the titles from the track list: "Andy Warhol" and "Song for Bob Dylan".

Of course "Hunky" is a masterpiece; Bowie develops an incredible personal vision on music, as shown on the stammering piano line of "Changes" -also featuring one of Bowie's greatest vocal performances and chorus on a song- and "Oh! you pretty things".

It sounds new.

Not because of the use of machines or exotic instrumentation.

Because Bowie was conceiving a new way of creating and playing music.

It wasn't the tools he was using, but how he was using them.

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