David Bowie
Under Review 1976-1979: The Berlin Trilogy (DVD)
Studio: Music Video Distribution
Musician, actor, androgynous creature — David Bowie is one of a kind. And as a big fan of the Under Review series, we couldn’t wait to dive into one covering the background of his historic Berlin Trilogy albums: Low, Heroes and Lodger.
Following his chameleon character phase (Ziggy, Major Tom), Bowie relocated to his adopted home country in Berlin. This move marked a turning point in Bowie’s career (and fan base), as he immediately began a long-time collaboration with electronic innovator Brian Eno that resulted in the three progressive albums.
What we liked best about the Nirvana In Utero Under Review was the track by track breakdown including musical and lyrical breakdown. That attention to detail doesn’t exist on this film. The filmmakers didn’t even enlist quotes from Bowie, Eno, Iggy Pop or any other impactful players during this point in Bowie’s career.
Instead former members of Neu! And Cluster Dieter and dentist-fearing journalists gave us their monotonous take on the period and circumstances leading up to the recording of Low. Most striking (or perhaps, detracting) was Michael Rother’s (Kraftwerk) 10 minute allegory about being deceived by Bowie’s management for his opportunity to collaborate on the albums. He didn’t, so who cares?
However bad the film really is, there is one key message repeated continuously that’s worth mentioning: Bowie is one of a select few musicians (i.e. Radiohead, U2) whose fan base expects his sound to continually push the envelope and enter new territory.
Low and Heroes are an especially good example of this one-two creative punch to the face of established, staid musical taste and critics of the day (e.g., 2000/01’s Kid A and Amnesiac).
It prompted us to dig out our own copies of the Berlin Trilogy and re-embrace the musician, actor, creature that is Bowie.
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