Thru’ These Architects Eyes

Written by: David Bowie, Reeves Gabrels
Recorded: January-February 1995
Producers: David Bowie, Brian Eno, David Richards

Released: 25 September 1995

Available on:
1.Outside

Personnel

David Bowie: vocals
Brian Eno: keyboards, synthesizer
Reeves Gabrels, Kevin Armstrong: guitar
Mike Garson: piano
Erdal Kızılçay: bass guitar
Neil Conti: drums

Written by David Bowie and guitarist Reeves Gabrels, ‘Thru’ These Architects Eyes’ is the penultimate song on the 1.Outside album.

Although described as being sung from the point of view of murder suspect Leon Blank, ‘Thru’ These Architects Eyes’ appears to have little to link it to the murder mystery narrative – it is, conversely, a walk through an unidentified city – perhaps a fictionalised Oxford Town, New Jersey – where Philip Johnson and Richard Rogers designs vie for modernist supremacy.

‘Thru’ These Architects Eyes’ was a late addition to 1.Outside, started in January 1995 at New York’s Hit Factory. It was completed at Westside Recording Studios in Holland Park, London, with additional guitar by Kevin Armstrong and drums by Neil Conti.

We have a Tin Machine reunion here of sorts on this song with amazing guitar work from both Reeves Gabrels and Kevin Armstrong.

There’s some interesting supportive piano in the background.

Here’s a crazy piano solo headed into a slow fade…

The vinyl edition of the album was titled Excerpts From 1.Outside. In addition to shorter edits of ‘Leon Takes Us Outside’ and ‘The Motel’, it omitted the songs ‘No Control’, ‘Wishful Beginnings’, ‘Thru’ These Architects Eyes’, and ‘Strangers When We Meet’, as well as the Algeria Touchshriek and second Nathan Adler segues.

Bowie performed ‘Thru’ These Architects Eyes’ on just two dates of the Outside Tour in 1995. The first was on 24 October at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington, and the second and final outing came one week later at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles.