VIVA! ROXY MUSIC

In the early - and mid-Seventies ROXY MUSIC made some very interesting prog rock albums while their members were more dressed like a glam rock band and singer Bryan Ferry looked and acted almost beyond the archetypical prog rock singer! When young genius Eddie Jobson joined ROXYT MUSIC he had a modest role on the studio-albums. But on stage his impact was much bigger, this is perfectly registered on the live-LP "Viva!" from 1976. On the first track "Out Of The Blue" he delivers a stunning electric violin solo, evoking the skills and emotion of the Rumanian gypsies. In the other songs he embellishes the music with very tasteful and varied keyboard play. Along Eddie Jobson's important role, ROXY MUSIC sounds on "Viva!" impressive and exciting thanks to skill full and creative musicians like Andrew MacKay (powerful sax and oboe), Phil Manzanera (fiery and sensitive electric guitar) and John Wetton his propulsive bass play. The climates are varied and alternating: sultry in "The Bogus Man", a lot of tension in "In Every Dream Home A Heartache" (explosive conclusion) and cheerful in "Do The Strand". The press used to call this music 'art-rock' but in my opinion ROXY MUSIC made a very progressive blend of rock, blues, symphonic and pop during those days, quite sensational and unique!