If Bowie’s previous release, Station to Station, were to be described as a blue-eyed soul and funk masterpiece that was largely fueled by drug binges, Low is the album that showcases the rough comedown that took place during its production.

Released as the first album of what would be known as the “Berlin Trilogy”, Low is an emotional record that gives listeners a glimpse into a low point of Bowie’s life by invoking feelings of loneliness, isolation, guilt, and hope that are evident throughout the 11-song track list of the album. Boldly opening up with the instrumental track Speed of Life, a hard distinction is made between the sounds of his previous works and those of the Berlin Trilogy (namely Low and “Heroes”), that provided a blueprint for other bands such as Joy Division and The Cure and helped define a new era of music. The synths showcased in this track as well as in Sound and Vision, Warszawa, and Subterraneans give off a futuristic sound that was ahead of its time on release as well as helping the album continue to sound fresh after over 48 years.

In the track Sound and Vision, feelings of loneliness begin to be expressed in the album through lyrics such as “Pale blinds drawl all day. Nothing to do, nothing to say” and “Drifting into my solitude”. Similar themes are expressed in Always Crashing in the Same Car where Bowie soberly sings the lyrics “I was just going ‘round and ‘round the hotel garage, must have been touching close to 94, oh, but I’m always crashing in the same car”, which paint a frustrating picture of consistently falling into the same bad habits.

Following the first half of the album, listeners are met with a second half that is almost entirely instrumental. The themes of loneliness and isolation are carried over to the second half of the album, but in a way that shows you these feelings as opposed to telling you. The Tracks “Warszawa” and “Subterraneans” are perfect examples of this as these tracks place the listener in a cold and gloomy environment that feels isolated from anything familiar.

All hope of climbing out of this increasingly deepening hole are not lost however, as the track “A New Career in a New Town” express the feeling that everything will get better. The bright synths and harmonica passages throughout this track paint an optimistic picture of starting on a blank slate and living a better life.