The Budda of Suburbia was Bowie's 19th full studio album, first release in 1993, commissioned by the BBC for the 4 part mini series of the same name. And although classified as a soundtrack album, only the title track was featured in the programme.

Bowie himself considered it to have been one of the most enjoyable projects he'd been involved in, and although the title track (2 versions are featured - one wirh Lenny Kravitz guesting on guitar) is a worthy addition to the Bowie canon, don't let that fool you into into a purchase.

It wasn't a great seller at the time, and there's unlikely to be queues for this re-release. It's one of the man's least commercial offerrings sounding (intentionally or not) like a soundtrack album. Vocals and lyrics play second string to extended 5 to 6 minute workouts ranging from rambling electronica (Sex And The Church), jazz excursions (South Horizon) and the sound of solitude (The Mysteries).

There are some more commercial moments - the title track, Bleed Like A Craze, Dad and Strangers When We Meet, but taken as a whole this couldn't be reagarded as an essential purchase.

**½

Review by Pete Whalley