David Bowie: New Tribute Album Announced

Modern Love arrives on May 28 and includes covers of Bowie tracks by Helado Negro, Khruangbin, Jeff Parker, We Are KING, Meshell Ndegeocello and many others. Today, marking Bowie's 74th birthday (and the fifth anniversary of Blackstar), BBE shared the first single from Modern Love. 

"There were so many amazing Bowie compositions to choose from, but 'Space Oddity' was always our favourite," said Amber and Paris Strother of We Are KING. "It's so visual. I always felt like I was on a journey through time. It tells such a vivid and imaginative story about the Major's journey into space, and it was such a wonderful experience to imagine what that journey would have been like."

Connection to other genres of music

BBE put together Modern Love to highlight Bowie's connection to the soul, R&B, Jazz, funk and Gospel sounds that influenced his own work. The project was curated by music executive and DJ Drew McFadden, together with BBE Music founder Peter Adarkwah. "I felt that the relationship between Bowie and R&B, Jazz, funk, Gospel had never been explored before," McFadden told the press. "At least not so much in covers, which tend to lean more towards rock and pop. 

Sure, there have been plenty of Bowie covers, but none that really tapped into what seems to have been a big part of his core musical style and direction."

The full tracklist of the record is:

Modern Love:

01 Miguel Atwood-Ferguson: "Life on Mars"
02 Helado Negro: "Sound & Vision"
03 Kit Sebastian: "Lady Grinning Soul"
04 Jeff Parker / The New Breed: "Soul Love" [ft. Ruby Parker]
05 Sessa: "Panic in Detroit"
06 The Hics: "The Man Who Sold the World"
07 Khruangbin: "Right"
08 Nia Andrews: "Silly Boy Blue"
09 Foxtrott: "Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family"
10 L'Rain: "Move On"
11 Eddie Chacon / John Carroll Kirby: "Tonight"
12 Jonsh Mutono: "Modern Love"
13 Bullion: "Where Are We Now"
14 Meshell Ndegeocello: "Fantastic Voyage"
15 Matthew Tavares: "Heroes"
16 We Are KING: "Space Oddity"