Life Beyond Mars: Bowie Covered

(Rapster)

While smartly remaining mostly outside the familiar oeuvre, Rapster’s electronica-based David Bowie tribute adds nothing to the canon, while caustically condensing the revolutionary aspects of its subject’s transformations into stale beats and hack disco. The lilting lullaby harmonies of Au Revoir Simone’s take on Hunky Dory‘s “Oh! You Pretty Things” opens beautifully unsettling, and credit Kelley Polar for pulling “Magic Dance” from the Labyrinth soundtrack, bad as it is. But Matthew Dear’s “Sound & Vision” plays disappointingly close to the hip, Leo Minor’s “Ashes to Ashes” is a schizophrenic mess, and Drew Brown drains “Sweet Thing” of its considerable power. Only Nordic avant-jazz trio the Thing completely upends Bowie with its experimental (indistinguishable) retreading of “Life on Mars.” At their best, covers should expand the original’s possibilities while emphasizing the artist’s influential versatility; Bowie needs neither, and Life Beyond Mars is a Thin White Dud.

*.5

This article appears in July 25 • 2008.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US

Doug Freeman has been writing for the Austin Chronicle since 2007, covering the arts and music scene in the city. He is originally from Virginia and earned his Masters Degree from the University of Texas. He is also co-editor of The Austin Chronicle Music Anthology, published by UT Press.