we were so turned on: a tribute to david bowie  (double CD, £12.50)

A project that began in early 2008 at last sees the light of day. It began as a vague idea of fresh and seasoned artists paying homage to the man who invented the art of reinvention. All profits from the album are being donated to Warchild: a charity that Bowie makes no secret about supporting. Within a few months Devendra Banhart (Megapuss), Vivian Girls and Carla Bruni all came on board to contribute tracks. By the summer of 2009, the record had begun to take shape when the addition of UK pop legends Duran Duran, ex-Slits Viv Albertine and legendary avant-garde bassist/musician Mick Karn were added to the roster. Manimal friends and alumni Warpaint, Chairlift and Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros came on board by that autumn. With a final tracklisting that is as diverse as it is chameleon-like, just like the thin white duke himself, We Were So Turned On has something for every Bowie lover. Tracklisting : Disc 1: Exitmusic "space oddity"/ Duran Duran "boys keep swinging" / Megapuss "sound + vision" / Warpaint "ashes to ashes" / Corridor "be my wife"/ Chairlift "always crashing in the same car" / Vivian girls "john, i'm only dancing" / All leather "fame" / We are the world "afraid of americans" / A Place To Bury Strangers "suffragette city"/ Tearist "repetition" / Halloween Swim Team "look back in anger" / Afghan Raiders "fashion" / Polyamorous Affair "theme from cat people"/ Swahili Blonde "red money" / Jessica 6 "i'm deranged" / Aska + Bobby Evans (feat. Moon & Moon) "african night flight" / Xu Xu Fang "china girl" … Disc 2 : VoicesVoices "heroes" / Carla Bruni "Absolute beginners" / Papercranes "blue jean" / Keren Ann "life on mars?" / Lewis & Clarke "changes" / Zaza "it aint easy" / Genuflex "soul love" / Sister Crayon "bewlay brothers" / Marco Benevento "art decade" / Mick Karn "ashes to ashes" / Lights (NYC) "world falls down" / Aquaserge "the supermen" / Caroline Weeks "starman" / Rainbow Arabia "quicksand" / Mechanical Bride "sound + vision" / Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros "memory of a free festival"