(10-track album/ 1999/ �Virgin Records�)
I�m sorry to say I didn�t grow up with Bowie. Up until around 1997-98 I had no idea that this man was in fact a God� literally, a God. And the reflective �hours�� was one of the first albums, released in 1999, that I really heard and made huge cause for me to instantaneously further my fascination with the man.
So much so I HAD to tear-ass down to London to catch his short-but-sweet set at �Net Aid� the same fall, where he proudly showcased a couple of songs off �hours� (�Survive� and �The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell�) - which I still could listen to for days on end.
On this album�s release, critics gushed that it was a true return to form for Bowie on the back of commercial flops �Outside� and �Earthling� (which I thought were both outstanding, boldly innovative albums), as opening song �Thursday�s Child� woos an air of honest admission when he sings �Something about me stood apart.� Schyeah, I�d say� such as that sweeping under-statement�
On from the subtly chilled sweetness of �Thursday�s Child,� the pace and tone of the remaining 9 tracks varies in best, overly dramatic style as �Survive� and �Seven� (�I forgot what my mother said as we lay upon your bed; I remember how we wept on a bridge of violent people�) stand-out as lush, heart-breakingly poetic acoustic wonders, and �The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell� exhibits the most ravishing of good old-fashioned rock �n� roll riffs. �Something In The Air,� �If I�m Dreaming My Life� and �What�s Really Happening� are all introverted, while the Bowie/Gabrels co-written �Brilliant Adventure� is a brief, Oriental-inspired instrumental.
For sheer mind-boggling and blowing exuberance though, you must skip-fast to �New Angels of Promise� (�We are the dead dreams, we take the blame�) and my fave �hours�� track in the album closer, �The Dreamers.� Therein his legendary voice peaks and jubilantly scales higher than the happiest man on planet Earth to have conquered Everest. Both songs are dark and ominously themed, and in such enchantingly bizarre moments Bowie is at his most compelling and intriguing.
It is safe to say, David Bowie has a voice for all seasons and a mind for mankind. He is my favourite person in the world of all time, and I�m so glad I discovered the genuine poignancy in �hours�� as soon as I did do. It�s the type of album I give the time of day on literally a 24/7 basis. (STEVE RUDD)
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