In a spectacular reversal of fortune, David Bowie gives the world a present on his birthday: a new single and a release date for his new album.

The Current will debut the new track at 9:05 a.m. today!

The Next Day, Bowie's first release in ten years, will be availalbe in March. The new song, "Where Are They Now?" is available on iTunes.

Long-time collaborator Tony Visconti produced the track, which is ostensibly about Bowie's time in Berlin in the 70s.

Fans aren't the only ones who were surprised. Reuters quotes Bowie's label, Columbia, as saying: the new song was a "treasure" that appeared "as if out of nowhere", underlining the element of surprise from a release that ends years of speculation among fans over whether he would record again.

"Throwing shadows and avoiding the industry treadmill is very David Bowie despite his extraordinary track record that includes album sales in excess of 130 million not to mention his massive contributions in the area of art, fashion, style, sexual exploration and social commentary," representatives from Columbia said.

Due March 12 in the U.S., The Next Day will feature 14 tracks, with a deluxe treatment featuring three more songs.