David Bowie: New Album 'The Next Day,' New Song 'Where Are We Now?' -- Listen

In what is easily the biggest surprise thus far in terms of rock releases comes word that David Bowie is issuing a new 14-track studio album entitled The Next Day. The album is set for release March 8 in Australia, March 11 in all other regions except the U.S. which will put out the album March 12. The album is also available for pre-order on iTunes.

According to the musician's official site -- which was offline for a few days before its relaunch earlier today (Jan. 8) -- the first single "Where Are We Now?" was released with an accompanying video directed by Tony Oursler "which harks back to David's time in Berlin." The video also includes images of an auto repair shop beneath the apartment Bowie lived in. Bowie's face is shown throughout the video alongside a woman's face with the footage in the background.

As for the song, it's a slower, moodier, jazz-tinged track which refers to different places in Berlin such as Bose Brucke as the lyrics are shown throughout the video. The song slowly builds steam near the homestretch with Bowie singing "As long as there's me/As long as there's you" to close.

The album, recorded in New York and produced by Tony Visconti, will come in a standard version and a deluxe version with three additional songs: "So She," "I'll Take You There" and "Plan." Song titles for the standard version include the opening title track, "Dirty Boys," "Valentine's Day" and "Dancing Out in Space" before closing with "Heat."

There's no word if Bowie will launch any tour behind the album -- his first since 2003's Reality and his 30th studio effort -- or if there will be any promotional or television appearances for The Next Day. However there is already speculation that the album's release in March could lead into a headlining slot at Coachella in April.