David Bowie announces first new material in 10 years

New Bowie album alert! Celebrating his 66th Birthday today, legendary musical innovator David Bowie has pleasantly surprised the internet by announcing via a revamped DavidBowie.com that he will release his first new material in ten years. 

His 30th studio recording, The Next Day will be out in March, preced by a new single, Where Are We Now? released exclusively via iTunes this morning. Recorded with long-time producer/collaborator Tony Visconti, it hints that the Thin White Duke is in reflective mood, with the plaintive track and video containing lyrical references to places in Berlin as well as archival footage of Bowie in the city, echoing his time spent there in the late '70s when he created his "triptych", the critically revered Berlin Trilogy.  

Recorded between 1976 and 1979 when Bowie based himself in Berlin, the Berlin trilogy included the critically regarded Low, Heroes and Lodger albums recorded with Tony Visconti and Brian Eno.

Commenting on the surprise announcement, his label Iso/Columbia said, "Throwing shadows and avoiding the industry treadmill is very David Bowie despite his extraordinary track record that includes album sales in excess of 130m, not to mention his massive contributions in the area of art, fashion, style, sexual exploration and social commentary" adding "David is the kind of artist who writes and performs what he wants when he wants...when he has something to say as opposed to something to sell."

The Next Day will be released in a standard and deluxe version in the UK on 11 March and is available to pre-order (Australia, 8th and 10th in US). Where are we now? is available now on iTunes.

Perhaps the only disappointment that might accompany the chameleon of rock's announcement is the indication that there are no plans for any live dates to support the release.