I found a review on Amazon that pretty much says everything -
This was the final studio album for the band, released in 1982. A lot had changed in the decade from their debut to this swansong. Glam, punk and disco had come and gone. Synthpop was the new thing, and that would dominate most of the 80s. While Avalon is not strictly a synthpop album, synths dominate it but they are used to create atmosphere. Most of Ferry's songs were now more or less 'moods' and 'textures' that were carefully and concisely sculpted into pop songs. That does not necessarily mean it's a bad thing, but it saw the end of Roxy Music experimentation. The band are still strong here though, Manzanera's guitar does more than it's fare share of percussive backing, shimmering chords and colourful solos. He's pretty much like The Edge in his approach in my opinion. He makes sounds you don't instantly recognize until you dissect them. The horns are strong too and McKay is in great blowing form, all the soprano atonal cries are still strong and stick inside your mind for a long time after you hear them. The rest of the band are session men, such as Alan Spenner on bass and Andy Newmark on drums, speaking of which, make Avalon a very percussive album. Some songs start with a rhythm box, then the main drums come in topped with all kinds of hand drums and percussion. Few bands could argue with a swan song like Avalon. Few bands ever sounded remotely like Roxy Music. Avalon is a classic, don't be fooled by Bob Clearmountains clean, radio friendly production. Just sit back and let it take you away. The end.
Preferred the single pic sleeve to the album cover, so flip-flopped that. As for the tracks, the remixes at the end are the highlight for me, as I have also included a Dreamtime remix and a Cygnet remix among the commercially released. The fan mixes are better.
Roxy Music - Avalon - 1982
This has always been one of my favorite albums. Thanks for the extras!
ReplyDeleteI defy anyone to listen to this album all the way through with the lights down low (actually, candlelight is best) while sipping a glass of wine, and NOT think that it's the most romantic album ever recorded.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletePossibly...but it was also the weakest album Roxy released. (unless you are American and think it was their best and probably their 1st album!)Plus it is more a Ferry solo album than a Roxy one. In with a bang out with a wimper, imo.
ReplyDeletenot true - I love this album and know the band well since I first heard of them in 75-76? I think? My dad was a big fan of theirs and I saw this album for what it is - great. I miss this whole 'sophisticated' band thing these days, but I do hear you, I suppose. I could listen to Gary Tibbs do the same bassline for days and never be sick of it. This album I think stands alone as it's own entity - sure but not a lame one.
Delete"I wish I had been into music when this was released"
ReplyDeleteThe early 80's were a great time to be buying music. I was 16 when this came out and for a good chunk of that decade there was just so much stuff coming out one thing after another and all over the map. I was listening to a lot of new wave and by decades end I was listening to a lot of stuff that I missed earlier in the decade and then the early 90's....ugh. I listened to a lot of jazz and classical and Eno/Sylvian/Sakamoto.
Love your blog by the way, you and I have the same interest in tweaking records with mixes and b-sides, will have to swing by the Depeche Mode Violator post and comment on that one sometime, I'm rather proud of my take on it.