THE BUDDHA OF SUBURBIA (OST)

The music written here should have been used as a soundtrack for a mini serie produced by the Beeb. Actually, only the title track belonged to the TV play and therefore, this album can't really be recalled as a soundtrack. It is actually more a true Bowie album with a complete lack of promotion.

Funny enough some songs dig in the early Bowie repertoire like the opening and title track "Buddha Of Suburbia" which ends up with the famous "Zane Zane, ouvre le chien" phrase which could be found on "All The Madmen" from "The Man Who Sold The World". Back to 1970.

Unfortunately not all songs available here are of interest (to say the least). The awful house style tune "Sex & The Church", the jazzy "South Horizon" are rather difficult to swallow. Even if the latter brought me back to the "A Lad Insane" atmosphere thanks to Garson's piano work.

Some tracks like the long "The Mysteries" will remind you the "Low" or "Heroes" days and are keeping this album in the interesting territories. But this album can't really be associated to the best of his work, even if David feels that way. But this often is the case. Completely ignored works (for whatever reasons), turn to be the preferred ones of the artist. Strange, strange, strange: ouvre le chien.

Of course, there are some excellent moments available (this is a Bowie album, right?). Like the very much "Roxy Music" oriented "Strangers When We Meet" (re-written on "Outside"), the upbeat "Dead Against It", or the ambient "Ian Fish UK Heir".

In all, this is a good Bowie album. No more. No masterpiece of course; let's be serious. It can only be of interest to devoted fans, but deserve probably this extra star I generously grant.