It may be controversial, to the point of being nearly heretical, to compare anyone to David Bowie. In the weeks since Bowie’s passing, there has been a near-universal outpouring of emotion – not only of grief, but of inspiration and joy and freedom that Bowie brought to people’s lives. And, despite certainly being a very different artist, Amanda Palmer has roused very similar feelings in her fans ever since debuting as one half of the Dresden Dolls in 2000 and exploding into the spotlight with her massively successful Theatre is Evil Kickstarter. To her fans, Palmer has been a beacon of originality, artistic freedom, and rebellion for over fifteen years, and now she’s joined with Grand Theft Orchestra bandmate Jherek Bischoff (along with an incredible string quartet and additional vocals from Anna Calvi, John Cameron Mitchell, and Palmer’s husband Neil Gaiman) to record a benefit tribute to Bowie himself.
The result was the EP, Strung Out in Heaven, released for one dollar with all proceeds (after royalties to Bowie’s publisher) going to the cancer research wing of Tufts Medical Center until March 5, 2016. Ranging Bowie’s expansive career from “Space Oddity” to “Blackstar,” with stunning arrangements by Bischoff (including an instrumental “Life on Mars?”), it’s a beautiful little album, not to be missed by any fan of Bowie’s or Palmer’s. Enjoy.
Check out more from Amanda Palmer at her website and on Twitter, and more from Jherek Bischoff at his website and on Twitter.
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