Outside by David Bowie

This is another hidden gem of Bowie’s, and one that almost didn’t get released - there were various bootleg versions of this floating around and the record company were very reluctant to release it or give it any promotion.

He re-united with Brian Eno for this one for the first time since the mid 70’s, leaning into the oblique strategy cards again and tying the songs together with a Twin Peaks style narrative of a detective called Nathan Adler investigating the murder of a young woman. The story is non-linear and told through spoken narration between the tracks (including one that sounds like The Laughing Gnome!) as well as copious liner notes. The music harks back to the Berlin trilogy in places (naturally enough) while also bringing in some absolutely banging beats on Hallo Spaceboy and some sublime jazz piano from Mike Garson underpinning it.

This one feels like a secret album, only known to a handful of us, and definitely one of his best!

https://album.link/i/1053947320