Released on November 8, 1993 by BMG International, the soundtrack to the 1993 TV miniseries The Buddha of Suburbia that is based on Hanif Kureishi’s novel and directed by Roger Michell is an album by David Bowie that has Bowie going more into experimental music with elements of jazz, ambient, and rock. Produced with David Richards, the album is made in collaboration with multi-instrumentalist Edral Kiziclay as well as pianist Mike Garson on a couple of tracks and a guest appearance from Lenny Kravitz. While it’s also technically a studio album, the album has Bowie not only continue in his exploration into electronic music but also make a return to the experimental work that he did in the late 70s.
The album opens and ends with its title track as the opener has elements of folk with a steady rhythm from its bass and drums by Edral Kiziclay while Bowie sings very nostalgic yet imaginative lyrics that are also reflective where he also includes some saxophone solos in the song. The closing version of the song features a blazing guitar solo by Lenny Kravitz for its coda as both song also feature references to a couple of old songs such as the riff of Space Oddity and bits of All the Madmen. Pieces like the electro-throb of Sex & the Church that features swirling electronic textures and distorted vocals by Bowie that play into the conflict of faith and human nature that would also feature jazzy saxophones by Bowie and Kiziclay’s arrangements of warbling electronics. Among the two instrumental-ambient pieces in the album, The Mysteries and Ian Fish, U.K. Heir as the former features soothing keyboards and somber piano melodies by Bowie while the latter includes some melodic string pieces and a more ominous synthesizer sound that would also include melodic tones from the title song.
In the two tracks that features pianist Mike Garson in South Horizon and Bleed Like a Craze, Dad as the former is this instrumental that features jazz-like drumming from Kiziclay and Bowie on keyboards with Garson provide some tinkling piano that features some strange warbling instrumental breaks by Bowie and Kiziclay‘s trumpet. In the latter, the song is a rock-based track that features charging guitars and drums by members of the band 3D Echo that plays along with Garson’s flourishing piano while Bowie just sings lyrical excerpts from All the Madmen as well as other abstract lyrics with Kiziclay providing keyboards in the background. The song Strangers When We Meet is this mid-tempo ballad led by Kiziclay’s bass line, a steady beat, and a mixture of melodic and distorted guitar textures with Bowie singing lyrics of longing and reflection as it features multi-tracked vocals from Bowie in its chorus.
Dead Against It is an electro-rock song led by pulsating keyboard beats and live drums by Kiziclay with driving guitars as Bowie sings very somber and chilling lyrics in a calm vocal as he also plays guitar. Untitled No. 1 is a ballad with some bopping, vibrant beats that has Bowie singing very strange abstract lyrics to soothing synthesizers and melodic guitar flourishes in the background along with some funk-based textures in the guitar riffs.
The soundtrack album to The Buddha of Suburbia is a remarkable album from David Bowie. Featuring some amazing instrumentals, dazzling experimentations, and some fantastic songs, the album is definitely considered one of the more overlooked gems in his catalog at it’s an album that needs to be given more exposure. In the end, the soundtrack album to The Buddha of Suburbia is a marvelous album from David Bowie.
Related: (The Buddha of Suburbia)
Studio Releases: David Bowie (1967 album) - David Bowie (1969 album) - The Man Who Sold the World - Hunky Dory - The Rise & Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars - Aladdin Sane - Pin Ups - Diamond Dogs - Young Americans - Station to Station - Low - "Heroes" - Lodger - Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) - Let’s Dance - Tonight - Never Let Me Down - Tin Machine - Tin Machine II - Black Tie White Noise - Outside - Earthling - ‘Hours…’ - Heathen - Reality - The Next Day - *
Live Releases: David Live - Stage - Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders from Mars - Tin Machine Live: Oy Vey Baby - Bowie at the Beeb - (Live at Fashion Rocks (w/ Arcade Fire)) - (Live Santa Monica ‘72) - (Glass Spider Live) - (VH1 Storytellers) - (A Reality Tour)
Soundtracks: Christiane F. - Labyrinth
Miscellaneous: Peter and the Wolf - Baal - Sound + Vision - (Early On (1964-1966)) - (All Saints) - Toy - (Nothing Has Changed)
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