Avalon

"...Avalon is, quite simply, one of the most lovely records ever made. It has a sumptuous sound, it's power is in it's simplicity, and a great ensemble effort...Bryan Ferry's amazingly lush vocals carry the mood completely from emotion to emotion, and the melodies linger for a lifetime..." Amazon reviewer A. Pender "Daisy Clover"

Roxy Music's Avalon

Avalon "...is a legendary island featured in the Arthurian legend...the place where King Arthur is taken to recover from his wounds after his last battle..." and where he, subsequently, is supposed to have died.

No, Avalon, Roxy Music's biggest-ever seller wasn't a remake of the musical Camelot. It was, instead, where Roxy Music, the trail-blazing, futuristic, witty band of the early and mid-1970s died. This wasn't entirely unexpected. 1978's "comeback" album Manifesto had been erratic, while 1980's Flesh And Blood was lacklustre.

However, Avalon isn't! Instead, it's a glorious, drug-like, sumptuous, sonic experience. Many refer to Avalon as "the ultimate make-out album" bit I prefer to compare its effect to what wikipedia has to say about the effects of taking the drug Ecstasy:   

With thumping Paul Thompson sacked from the drum stool, the far subtler session player Andy Newmark lays a featherbed of light grooves upon which a strangely subdued Manzanera on guitar & Mackay on mostly alto sax float in and out of the mix counterpointing Ferry's earnest vocalisings about God knows what. Trust me, there's not one detectable song on Avalon but there's plenty of...gorgeous sound.

The single, More Than This, sets the scene...  

Roxy Music: More Than This 

...and the rest of the set is much of the same. I won't quote any lyrics, they're merely part of the music and it would be a disservice to Avalon to extricate them but History will show that while a host of young (but very inferior) testosterone-driven imitators like:

• Duran Duran
• The Human League
• Spandau Ballet
• A Flock Of Seagulls

...surged ahead with the assistance of MTV, Roxy's adult, sophisticated lounge music stands as perhaps the great English album of that time. Simply speaking, you must have Avalon. As one Amazon reviewer, Peter J. Swingle writes:

"...I'm eternally grateful to an ex-girlfriend for introducing me to this CD ten years ago. It's a perfect backdrop for anything from a quiet dinner to having friends over to writing poetry or drawing. And then there are the times when I just sit and close my eyes and let the pictures form in the mind's eye..."

Roxy Music: Avalon

"...Roxy Music's Avalon joins Steely Dan's Aja as a timeless pop classic. Whereas Aja invoked the laid-back cool of clubbing and hot-tubbing in late 70s southern California, Avalon invokes the dawn of Cool Britannia but just on the cusp of the New Romantics proclamation of the Thatcher years. These aural landscapes were revolutionary at the time and a break from Roxy Music's discordant power-pop past..." Amazon reviewer Bachelier

"...Like going back to the womb...but, in a good way. Bryan Ferry's extremely mellifluous voice is seductive, almost narcotic...it's that addictive, too...." Amazon reviewer Travis Dubya McGee Bickle "elitist duffer"

"...As if the album wasn't stunning enough on the power of the songs, Bryan Ferry's voice and great production..this SACD takes the album to another dimension! I am a huge SACD fan and have bought nearly a hundred of them...however a lot leave a lot to be desired! This has to be in my top 5...for the way it has been carefully remastered so the sound fills every corner of the room!..." Amazon.co.uk reviewer Mr. Nathan Armstrong

Yes, you must have Avalon. It's mellow, smooth like the very best malt whiskey, still sounds magnificent...and it's way cheaper than buying drugs! 

Fan created montage for Tara, the final track from Avalon

Roxy Music's 1982 Avalon line-up, was captured in concert by BBC TV and has been released as a DVD, The High Road. Tracks include:

• The Main Thing
• Out Of The Blue
• Both Ends Burning
• A Song For Europe
• Can't Let Go
• While My Heart Is Still Beating
• Avalon
• My Only Love
• Dance Away
• Love Is The Drug
• Like A Hurricane
• Editions Of You
• Do The Strand
• Jealous Guy

 Roxy Music: The High Road LIVE DVD

"...This as an utterly awesome music DVD in every way. The sound is superb, the performance is seamless, the camera-work and editing is totally professional...If I had to find any quibble, it would be that the tempo of Love Is The Drug is a little brisk but that's why we buy LIVE recordings...to hear a different take. It is amazing that such a polished recording could possibly be achieved LIVE....it's just staggering really..." Amazon reviewer John Staugaard

For more info, see:

• wikipedia Avalon