Since his death on January 10th, 2016, David Bowie’s unreleased archives and essential live recordings have been rife. Recorded in the Starplex Theatre in Dallas on the 13th of October, 1995, during his Outside tour, Ouvrez Le Chien takes its title from the lyrics of All The Madmen from the album The Man Who Sold The World. In this concert, the Briton is surrounded by his faithful musicians of the time: Carlos Alomar on rhythm guitar, Reeves Gabrels on lead guitar, Gail Ann Dorsey on bass, Zachary Alford on drums, Peter Schwartz and Mike Garson on piano and synth. This was the Bowie era in which he didn’t hide his fascination for the Industrial scene led by groups such as Nine Inch Nails (who incidentally played support for these concerts). Such a fascination can indeed be heard on this record, especially in its garish guitar solos, stakhanovite rhythms and sweeping urban synths. This sound is applied to his then contemporary tracks (The Hearts Filthy Lesson, Outside, I Have Not Been to Oxford Town, I’m Deranged) as well as past hits (Andy Warhol, Breaking Glass, The Man Who Sold The World, Teenage Wildlife). There is an electric and rhythmic exuberance (the very full-on drumming can occasionally become tiresome) in this live recording that goes hand in hand with Bowie’s tendency for excess. An essential record for hardcore fans. © Marc Zisman/Qobuz