AVALON

Avalon was Roxy Music´s eighth and final studio album. And one of their best, even if completely different from what they were doing when they started. In fact it represents their capacity of reinventing themselves completely like it was announced from the very first track on their debut in 1972 (re-make/re-model). it was also one of the groundbreaking albums of the 80´s with its perfect production (some say too perfect) and atention for the smallest detail. The band, or more specific, Bryan Ferry had taken the band into the most sophisticated art rock product thus far.

Ferry´s songwriting skills were at their peak after two relatively weak albums (Manifesto and Flesh + Blood). Avalon on the other side has a strong sense of musical direction that is all over the album, and not on just on some tracks as it happened on the previous effords recorded after their come back in 1979. The arrangements and performances are terrific, and the high quality sound reminds me of the Peter Gabriel´s works of the time. The band used some of the finest session man available to great effect and some of them (bassist Alan Spenner and drummer Andy Newmark) would eventually join the band full time for their last tour.

The result was both an artistic and commercial success, just like their debut ten years before. But this time the album went straight to number 1 spot in the UK and spent over an year in the charts. It was their biggest selling album of their entire career and it set the pattern for all future solo Ferry´s works like the highly successful Boys And Girls and Bete Noire. Unfortunatly it was also Roxy´s very last (studio) record and the end of Ferry´s creative powers in revolutionary terms. He would be stuck in the mode for the next twenty years. Still, Avalon was a great feat for the time.

It is hard to point a highlight, since all the tracks are very strong and could have become hits, but I like very much While My Heart Is Still Beating (a live favorite and the closest thing they recorded here that resembles of the original band). Even the two brief instrumentals are interesting: India would serve as the opener for their last tour and the beautiful Tara would get a much better and longer version on their 2001 tour (fortunatly, recorded on CD and DVD for posterity).

A classic pop album that has its prog features too, at least for the time. Of the many pop albums that were number ones, this is probably the one that has stood the test of time with greater results. it still sounds fresh and sophisticated after all those years. Rating: for a pop album I´d gladly give it a five estar rating. In fprog terms it deserves al least four. A very graceful way to say goodbye from one of prog´s most interesting and influential bands.