Following David Bowie’s surprise return in January with lead single ‘Where Are We Now’ from the musical chameleon’s first album in ten years, and his uncanny ability to elude the music industry while working on new album The Next Day with a cast of close friends, a fellow British musician has hinted that the 55-minute release may only be half of what Bowie has up his sleeve.
As The Telegraph reports, ex-Oasis frontman Noel Gallagher has revealed that there may be another release on the way from Bowie, saying there were nearly 30 tracks recorded for the The Next Day, some of which weren’t used on the finished 14-track album, with another three tracks (‘So She’, ‘I’ll Take You There’ and ‘Plan’) appearing on the deluxe edition of the album.
In an interview with UK radio station Absolute Radio on Sunday night, Gallagher said: “According to people I’ve spoken to, there’s another album in the pipeline,” adding that “there was, like, 29 songs or something,” leftover from the recording sessions for The Next Day.
Gallagher, who contributed to ‘BOWIE‘ a three-part retrospective broadcast on British television this week, gushed at the legendary musician’s new release, revealing he was “staggered” by the album:
I’ve got to say I was properly staggered about how good [it] actually was. I don’t believe for a second that he’s thrown those songs together in two years. It sounds like a record that has been in the making for ten years. And if it is, I admire him even more. I genuinely put Bowie up there with some of the greatest there has ever been, with Elvis, John Lennon… he’s in that league.”
Gallagher admitted that he didn’t know when the iconic musician might release another record, noting Bowie kept his unpredictable comeback a secret from the music industry and fans alike for over two years. “He could disappear for another ten years or there could be another album. He might do the greatest tour of all time or he might never gig again. Who knows?” said the former Oasis frontman.
Supporting Gallagher’s claims of an album’s worth of leftover material is album producer and collaborator Tony Visconti. Speaking to The Guardian back in January, Visconti noted The Next Day marks a new chapter in Bowie’s career, not a swan song.
He told the British paper they ended up recording 29 songs, of which only 17 are featured on the deluxe edition of the album which dropped March 8th.
“We have tracks left over that are really great, that just didn’t fit with this batch, so I know we have the makings of another album. And I know he wants to keep recording,” says Visconti. “I’m not sure when, but I think he’ll be back in the studio later this year.” “He could disappear for another ten years or there could be another album. He might do the greatest tour of all time or he might never gig again. Who knows?” – Noel Gallagher
Considering his track record for unpredictable surprises – including streaming The Next Day for free on iTunes just days ahead of its release – there’s every chance Bowie could drop the remaining material before the end of the year; meanwhile rumours of a tour in support of The Next Day have been circulating since its release.
Bowie himself is remaining particularly elusive on the subject with Visconti acting as spokesperson, having to clarify a recent Pitchfork article that claimed Bowie was ‘done with touring’, with the producer tweeting “I never said Bowie would never perform live again. Pitchfork made that up. He won’t tour for this album — that’s all I said.”
The release of the new album has stirred nostalgia in fans worldwide with the Victoria and Albert Museum in the UK currently showcasing an exhibition which is featuring items from the artist’s nearly 50 year career.
Coinciding with the release of The Next Day, the V&A’s ‘David Bowie Is’ Exhibition has delved deep into the archives to curate an exhaustive look at his career; featuring more than 300 items including original costumes, handwritten lyrics, photography, film, music videos, fashion, set designs, and even some of Bowie’s own instruments.
The man himself has also gathered an impressive collection of his iconic music videos from over the years on his own personal Vimeo account for fans to enjoy. Including cuts from each era of his videography, fans can indulge and re-live Bowie’s many distinct looks and sounds – including his pirate look in the 1974 “Rebel Rebel” film clip, the plastic soul period of 74′s “Young Americans“, the classic Berlin era “Heroes” to his eccentric and *ahem* rather chummy 1985 duet with Mick Jagger on “Dancing In The Street“.
The latest music video from Bowie is the second single from newest album The Next Day, ‘The Stars (Are Out Tonight)’, which was also released with an accompanying 6-minute short film starring Bowie and British actress Tilda Swinton who play an old couple whose lives begin to get more than a little strange when a pair of svelte-looking celebrity stalkers move into town, taking up occupancy with an androgynous Bowie-lookalike who disturbs the neighbours with some good old fashioned rock.
Bowie’s 24th studio album The Next Day received a 9 out 10 rating from our Tone Deaf reviewer, noting that “the cult of Bowie is such that even had his latest proffered aural rubbish, it would have likely been received with collective open arms. But there’s no fear of Bowie resting on his laurels here – The Next Day is an excellent album that sits proudly amongst his extensive back catalogue.”
