David Bowie‘s latest posthumous surprise is a mysterious music video for “No Plan.” The song is one of three new compositions from his Lazarus soundtrack, the music from his Off-Broadway musical of the same name. Released today on what would have been Ziggy Stardust’s 70th birthday, the video is an exercise in existentialism, one made all the more potent with the eternal pallor of Bowie’s ghost hanging over us.
“No Plan” opens on a store called Newton Electronics. The storefront is the backdrop for a stack of various-sized TV screens, each displaying grainy white noise. As a cymbal crash begins the song, lyrics and lo-fi images appear on-screen, portraying scenes of birds and a sepia-colored New York City. “Here, am I nowhere now? No plan,” sings Bowie.
The phenomenon attracts a small crowd, who gather around the televisions, intently observing the song unfold. “Here, there’s no music here,” he muses. “I’m lost in screens of sound.” Just before the jazzy song ends, an image of Bowie briefly fills the screen before fading to red. The crowd disappears. The screens flicker to off. We are left alone, without Bowie or a plan, once again.
“No Plan” joins “Lazarus” and fellow newcomers, “When I Met You” and “Killing a Little Time,” on the four-song No Plan EP, as Entertainment Weekly reports. The new record arrived on the iTunes store today, and you can download or stream it here.
What do you think of the new video? Is it as eerie for you as it was for me? Let us know in the comments below.
Image: DavidBowieVEVO
