Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Roxy Music
Label: Virgin Records
Release: 1982
Runtime: 37:31
Rating: 5/5
“Avalon” was the eighth and final studio album from Roxy Music, the British art rock institution that first made a name for itself in the early seventies with a one-of-a-kind blend of art rock and glam rock. After rising from the ashes in the late seventies, they discovered a new wave sophistication that cemented their place among the legends. The album, named after the legendary island, was without a doubt the peak of their career, both artistically and commercially, which makes it all the stranger that the band decided to call it quits for several years after the tour wrapped up in 1983. These days they’re playing together again, but their studio career will most likely remain a thing of the past.
“Avalon” handed them two mega hits in “More Than This” and the title track, two songs that even people who have never otherwise heard of them know, while “Take a Chance With Me” also scored a nice success on the home turf of the British charts. Charismatic singer and incorrigible charmer Bryan Ferry, with the help of guitarist Phil Manzanera and saxophonist Andy MacKay, the other two original members besides him, pulled off a masterpiece and one of the best albums of the eighties, one that went down in the history of art rock and new wave in golden letters. There are few bands whose most commercial, radio-friendly record is also their best, but with Roxy Music, that rarity is exactly what happened.
Every single track offers plenty of pleasure for all the music gourmets who appreciate pop rock “with brains” as one of the main offshoots of “good old” progressive rock. Thanks to Ferry’s charismatic vocals, the individual compositions bathe in waves of gorgeous romance. The abundance of nostalgia, including on both instrumentals, comes mainly from the sensual keyboard arrangements, which are also Ferry’s doing.
“More Than This” isn’t just a wonderful evergreen with an infectious chorus that easily seeps into the listener’s (sub)conscious, but also a rather unusual hit, since in its second half this timeless song morphs into a full-on instrumental, where gently undulating keyboard parts take the lead. As a fun fact, this legendary hit turned up many years later in the popular video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City, where it was part of the car radio lineup. On “The Space Between”, a funky bass line courtesy of Alan Spenner and witty saxophone flourishes deliver an immensely effective collage of new wave romanticism and art rock experimentation, with a light breeze of jazz blowing through.
The legendary title track is a chapter all its own and a veritable musical ideal for all the incorrigible romantics trying to follow in Mr. Ferry’s footsteps. On the hypnotic chorus, the soft backing vocals of guest singer Yanick Etienne add even more romantic mysticism. It’s all laid over a layer of delicately played percussion and a set of dead simple but hugely effective guitar phrases, which the saxophone then fittingly embellishes in the closing section. The short instrumental “India” matches its title perfectly, as an authentic oriental atmosphere runs through it via elegantly rolling synth textures and a witty guitar phrase.
The ballad “While My Heart Is Still Beating” is undoubtedly the most melancholic song on the album, thanks largely to Ferry’s melodramatic vocals and the piercing saxophone and piano touches. The excellent, slightly mysterious “The Main Thing” opens with a grooving rhythm line that even their not-so-distant prog rock “cousins” King Crimson wouldn’t have been ashamed of. An enigmatic synth sound soon joins the all-around rhythmic sophistication. Especially tasty are the additional mystery-stirring vocal lines and the inventive guitar seasoning from Manzanera. “Take a Chance With Me” is another heavyweight that didn’t become as big a hit as “More Than This” and “Avalon”, but still helped set the standard for quality art rock in the 21st century. A deft transition from the instrumental intro into melodic sequences follows, with an infectious chorus and equally infectious guitar phrases, while Ferry confirms once again that he wasn’t just a great singer but also knew his way around the synth technology of the time.
“To Turn You On”, yet another gorgeous romantic ballad, is something that could only have grown in Bryan’s own backyard and could easily have ended up on one of his solo records. Manzanera’s solo and witty rhythmic touches enrich the romantic sophistication with a dash of the indispensable experimentalism. The phenomenal “True to Life” is probably the most overlooked track on the album, even though with its stunning mystical-romantic mood, the sophistication of its individual arrangements and the lyrical message itself, it ranks among the best achievements in the band’s history. The “culprits” here are mainly the delicate layers of synths, which accompany Ferry’s hypnotic vocals alongside the intelligent rhythmic parts. The closing jazzy instrumental “Tara”, whose title can refer to a woman or to a piece of land or estate (as in the film “Gone with the Wind”), is a perfectly fitting finale to the album, with an excellent saxophone solo from Mackay and Ferry conjuring up sea wave effects on the synthesizer.
With Roxy Music, “Avalon” undoubtedly proved the old saying that it’s best to bow out while you’re still on top. An art rock masterpiece that keeps wowing new generations of music gourmets, it was the cherry on top to close out a magnificent career. Most people these days tend to think first of the three big hits when “Avalon” comes up, even though there isn’t a single dud on it. And let’s not forget that the album had a considerable influence on future generations of art rock bands and also helped cement Ferry’s solo success. In 1983, after a tour on which they shared the stage with prog rock giants King Crimson, Roxy Music decided to end their success story, after which the individual members, led by Ferry, turned to solo careers, but the legend lives on, mainly through this album and new live appearances.
Lineup
Bryan Ferry – vocals, keyboards, guitar synthesizer
Andy Mackay – saxophone
Phil Manzanera – guitar
Neil Hubbard – guitar
Alan Spenner – bass guitar on tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10
Andy Newmark – drums on tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9
Jimmy Maelen – percussion on tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 9
GUEST MUSICIANS:
Neil Jason – bass guitar on tracks 2, 6, 7 and 9
Yanick Etienne – vocals on track 3
Paul Carrack – piano on track 8
Rick Marotta – drums on track 8
Kermit Moore – cello on track 8
Fonzi Thornton – vocals on tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 9
Production
Rhett Davies and Roxy Music
Track list
1. More Than This
2. The Space Between
3. Avalon
4. India(Instrumental)
5. While My Heart Is Still Beating
6. The Main Thing
7. Take a Chance with Me
8. To Turn You On
9. True to Life
10. Tara(Instrumental)
