This is in my opinion the second best song in the album “Low”, and it is only second because in that same album we have “Sound and Vision”.
Low was recorded in 1977 (the year I was born!) and is widely regarded as one of his most influential releases. Low was the first of the “Berlin Trilogy”, a series of collaborations with Brian Eno (Martin talked about it here). The experimental, avant-garde style would be further explored on “Heroes” and Lodger. The album’s working title was New Music Night and Day.
The piece, which has no lyrics, is still autobiographical, like many of Bowie’s other pieces on this album. The title, “A New Career in a New Town,” reflects Bowie’s move to the USA from Europe. Despite a distant tone, the upbeat nature of the piece presents a sort of optimism in having a chance to start over.
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/8p81A5IV-eU" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]
This song serves as the part of the “binding” for the A-side of Low, which starts with a similarly upbeat instrumental, Speed of Life. The song relies heavily on Brian Eno’s synthesizer collection and techniques. At the far front of the piece is Bowie’s harmonica solo, which echoes over the rest of the song and provides a contrast between its acoustic purity and the heavily electrified band. In fact, considering the use of the Harmonizer on Dennis Davis’ drum set and the heavy amplification of the other acoustic instruments, the harmonica is the most undoctored instrument on the recording.
pol