My Favourite Albums of 2016: #12 David Bowie - Blackstar

From a truly exceptional man, came a truly exceptional final album. 50 years into his career Bowie’s last record was as at the top of the pile when it came to 2016’s innovative and inspiring releases. From the cover’s black star symbol finality combined with the use of the Terminal font on the rear, through to the abstract electro-acoustic jazz music contained within, Black Star is a challenging and ambitious record channelled with lyrics that spoke in part of the very near future. “Look up here, I’m in heaven, I’ve got scars that can’t be seen,” he sang on the absurdly truthful and brilliant Lazarus. ” I know something is very wrong,” he added  later towards the close.

It would be very easy to put Black Star in an end of year list because of Bowie’s death. But that’s not the case. Black Star is there on musical merit. There’s no big pop hits or radio friendly singalongs but a huge depth that allows the listener to explore its strangeness for hours on end.

David Bowie - Lazarus (Video)