By curating this year's Meltdown festival at London's South Bank Centre - a role previously filled by Nick Cave, Scott Walker and John Peel - David Bowie is asserting himself as an influential artist. The release of new album Heathen, Bowie's first in three years, marks an important crossroads for him as he makes a concerted effort to transform from mere musician of note into musical godfather. The album features guests Pete Townsend and Dave Grohl, and cover versions of songs by The Pixies and Neil Young. The producer is Tony Visconti, arguably the best of all Bowie producers, clearly on hand to help rekindle the good times.

Bowie's songwriting on Heathen is generally solid, if rarely groundbreaking, and just about always manages to deliver the goods. While 5.15 The Angels Have Gone might be what you would end up with if you put Enya together with Julio Iglesias and is, for the most part, one to skip. But Bowie's songwriting on Heathen is generally solid, if rarely groundbreaking, and just about always manages to deliver the goods. It is the work of a musician talented enough to recognise his own deficiencies and to know who to draft in to cover them up. On this evidence Bowie is certainly not past it, and with Heathen he suggests that we're some way from hearing the last of him.

Michael Hubbard

BBC

Side One

1 Sunday, 4:45

2 Cactus, 2:54

3 Slip Away, 6:04

4 Slow Burn, 4:41

5 Afraid, 3:28

6 I’ve Been Waiting For You, 3:00

Side Two

7 I Would Be Your Slave, 5:13

8 I Took A Trip On A Gemini Spacecraft, 4:05

9 5.15 The Angels Have Gone, 5:00

10 Everyone Says Hi, 3:58

11 A Better Future, 4:11

12 Heathen (The Rays), 4:16

Bonus Tracks

(On Bonus CD)

13 Sunday (Moby Remix), 5:11

14 A Better Future (Air Remix), 4:56

15 Conversation Piece (Re-recorded 2000), 3:52

16 Panic In Detroit (Outtake from 1979), 2:59

SACD Version

1 Sunday, 4:45

2 Cactus, 2:54

3 Slip Away, 6:14

4 Slow Burn, 5:04

5 Afraid, 3:28

6 I’ve Been Waiting For You, 3:16

7 I Would Be Your Slave, 5:13

8 I Took A Trip On A Gemini Spacecraft, 4:05

9 5.15 The Angels Have Gone, 5:25

10 Everyone Says Hi, 3:58

11 A Better Future, 4:11

12 Heathen (The Rays), 4:16

13 When The Boys Come Marching Home, 4:46

14 Wood Jackson, 4:48

15 Conversation Piece, 3:52

16 Safe, 5:53

Recorded: Allaire Studios, New York, USA

Looking Glass Studios, New York, USA

Sub Urban Studios, London, UK

(January 2001 – January 2002)

Musicians: David Bowie, vocals, guitars, keyboards, saxophone,

stylophone, drums

Tony Visconti, bass, guitars, recorders, string arrangements,

backing vocals

Matt Chamberlain, drums, loop programming, percussion

David Torn, guitars, guitar loops, omnichord

Greg Kitzis, first violin

Meg Okura, second violin

Martha Mooke, viola

Mary Wooten, cello

Carlos Alomar, guitar

Sterling Campbell, drums

Lisa Germano, violin

Gerry Leonard, guitar

Tony Levin, bass

Mark Plati, guitar, bass

Jordan Ruddess, keyboards

Lennie Pickett, baritone saxophone

Stan Harrison, alto saxophone

Steve Elson, tenor saxophone

Kristeen Young, backing vocals, piano

Pete Townshend, guitar on Slow Burn

Gary Miller, additional guitar on Everyone Says ‘Hi’

Dave Clayton, keyboards on Everyone Says ‘Hi’

John Read, bass on Everyone Says ‘Hi’

Sola Akingbola, percussion on Everyone Says ‘Hi’

Philip Sheppard, electric cello on Everyone Says ‘Hi’

Producers: David Bowie, Tony Visconti

David Bowie, Mark Plati (Afraid)

Brian Rawling, Gary Miller (Everyone Says ‘Hi’

Released: 10 June 2002, 6 December 2002 (SACD)

Label: ISO/Columbia 508222

Heathen