STRANDED

The first song, "Street Life" (rating 7) tries to trace that of the first two albums: a song in the upbeat, a rave up at great speed, but in this case the result is only passable. There is no genius of "Do The Strand" or "Re-make Re-model", there is a good rhythm but it is not as amazing as its predecessors, it lacks the sound orgasm, it lacks in fact almost everything. The second song, always following the scheme of the first two albums, is a piano ballad ("Just Like You", rating 7+), where we see the innate elegance of the composer and singer, who with his voice embellishes a piece that is musically quite trivial. But there is also a nice bass sound: the ex-Quatermass John Gustafson, a great talent, has arrived.

The third piece, "Amazona" (rating 8) is a syncopated pop-rock where the guitar treated by Manzanera (author with Ferry) produces experimental effects worthy of Brian Eno. Until now you don't miss Eno much: Instead, it is Mackay who misses you: where did your saxophone end up? The touch of class of his sound is so far the greatest loss of the record. The fourth piece arrives ("Psalm", rating 7,5), another piano ballad with a slow rhythmic progression, which stunted but ends in crescendo. And above all: finally you can hear Mackay. A good first side ends here. Good but definitely inferior to the excellent quality of the two previous albums.

The second side begins with a two-and-a-half-minute song at a sustained pace (Serenade, rating 7+), a rave up better than the initial track, but the song is too short and it is not as accomplished as "Virginia Plain". A surprise, after this start a bit 'defective, comes the absolute masterpiece that you don't expect: "Song for Europe" (authors Ferry and Mackay, rating 9,5). A dreamy, epic, romantic ballad, from German and French cabaret, where the voice of Ferry, the sound of the piano, the bombastic drums (Paul Thompson) combine to seal an evocative pathos of very high levels, especially when the saxophone of Makay arrives together with the part in French sung by Ferry (for a moment we also heard the violin played by Eddie Jobson). We are talking about a romantic song of evocative quality that few artists can hope to achieve. "Mother of Pearl" is another long track with a rave up beginning that fade away too soon in a ballad without real strength (rating 6,5). The last song, "Sunset" is a slow piano ballad with a beginning similar to "Sea Breezes". The song is too static and does not take off (rating 7). Here maybe you really miss Eno because there is a lack in the arrangements.

Eno ultimately was not right: it's not the best Roxy Music's album. The first two were masterpieces, this is "just" a good album, expecially thank to "Song For Europe".

Medium quality of the songs: 7,5. Rating album: 8+. Four Stars

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