David Bowie's new musical stage show will feature new songs that sound as good as his ''classic'' tracks, according to the project's director.

Titled 'Lazarus', the 68-year-old musician's new show is being co-written with Irish playwright Enda Walsh, and is to be directed by Belgian director Ivo van Hove, who has said that the show's songs are incredible.

Ivo said: ''Some of the songs sound as if you have heard them forever - like classics. There are romantic songs - because his songs are deeply romantic - and there are songs about violence and the ugly world surrounding us. That's what these new songs are about. [David] told me he is going to give his songs a new skin.''

While the show is based on Bowie's 1976 film 'The Man Who Fell to Earth' - which saw the musician playing an alcoholic alien called Thomas Newton - the director has confirmed that the 'Starman' singer won't be appearing on stage himself.

Speaking to the BBC, Ivo said: ''I don't think [performing on stage] is the thing he likes most in his life.''

As well as this new stage show, Bowie will be releasing his single 'Changes' as a limited edition seven-inch picture disc for this year's Record Store Day on April 18.

The track, taken from Bowie's 1971 album 'Hunky Dory', will be released alongside another clear vinyl seven-inch that pairs Bowie's 1980 cover of 'Kingdom Come' with the Tom Verlaine original.