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Bass on David Bowie's Ashes to Ashes
- Thread starter rich n
- Start date
Great song from one of my favorite Bowie albums. I remember seeing Nine Inch Nails opening for Bowie. They did Scary Monsters and throughout the song, Bowie's band took over the instruments until it was all Bowie's band and then Bowie comes out and finishes the song as Trent leaves the stage. Coolest transition I've ever seen. Then all of the kids who came to see NINs filed out and the handful of oldtimers that came to see Bowie had pretty much a private show.
The bass line is part of the texture of the song and fits in well.
The bass line is part of the texture of the song and fits in well.
This is a great song, I believe about Bowie's struggle with Cocaine use/addiction.. It has a very interesting quirky groove, and it my favorite Bowie song, and was my favorite song altogether a while back. I think this is a great example of musical slap bass, as opposed to slap wanking. Also the wobbly piano sound makes for a cool effect, along with the quirky vocals. Great chord changes too.
I especially love the multi-measure isorhythm that goes through the outtro, where the melody he sings during "My mother said to get things done you better not mess with Major Tom" keeps changing ever-so-slightly, like two pieces of a huge and slowly rotating Calder mobile.
Top tune, unmistakable bass track, very 'on it' and effective, George Murray with a Stingray.
Many of the players/lines over Bowies career have been top notch.
Many of the players/lines over Bowies career have been top notch.
