Like Low before it, Heroes was one of
David Bowie's most experimental and avant-garde records, so it made sense that
Philip Glass would follow the
Low Symphony with the
"Heroes" Symphony, adapting
Bowie and
Brian Eno's original, minimalistic synthesized sketches for full orchestra. Surprisingly,
Glass' arrangements and orchestrations -- including charting the title track for a big band -- are less adventurous than the original recordings, which actually robs the music of its impact. However, the new arrangements emphasize the icy allure of the original compositions, and the shimmering, glassy textures sound coldly beautiful. Nevertheless, the
"Heroes" Symphony doesn't quite hold together as an actual symphony, but it remains an intriguing listen, even if it is a disarmingly unchallenging one. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine