David Bowie has outdone himself in the weirdness stakes with the “short film” for his new single, Blackstar.

The 10-minute single is accompanied by a short film which features Bowie – “at the centre of it all” – with a bandage wrapped around his face, and black button eyes.

The rather odd video – accompanied by one of Bowie’s more avante-garde songs – also features a woman with a tail on a rocky planet who opens a spaceman’s helmet and finds a bejewelled skull (a “Space Oddity”, perhaps?).

Crucified scarecrows gyrate, dancers shake in an attic, and Bowie holds aloft a black book – with a black star on the front.

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The video premiered on Sky Atlantic ahead of an episode of director Johan Renck’s series, The Last Panthers. Johan also directed the short film for Blackstar and uses the song as a title track for The Last Panthers.

The song was teased earlier as Bowie revealed the artwork for his 25th studio album, which is due out on January 8 – the musician’s 69th birthday.

The album will be titled with a single black star symbol.

David Bowie – ★ Album artwork reveal | Facebook