Review Summary: A work of art, an amazing start. Roxy Music creativity at their best.
“Roxy Music” is the eponymous debut studio album of Roxy Music that was released in 1972. The line up on the album is Bryan Ferry, Brian Eno, Andy MacKay, Phil Manzanera, Graham Simpson and Paul Thompson. The album had also the participation of Rik Kenton.
Roxy Music was a prog art rock band from UK that was founded in London in the early of 1970 by Bryan Ferry. Ferry, who was graduated from art school, became the group’s lead vocalist and the main songwriter. The band’s name is a reference to the titles of old cinemas and dance halls and a pun with the worth rock. Ferry first named the band Roxy, but when he knew that there was a US band with the same name, he changed its name to Roxy Music. Roxy Music’s debut features an entertaining mix of styles, even within the songs, which unrestrainedly crosses all genre boundaries.
Roxy Music isn’t only interesting because Brian Eno was in the first albums, although I already share the opinion that the first two albums were the best of the band in terms of technology and progressivity. If you only know some hits of the band mainly from later years, you get a wrong picture. In reality, Roxy Music offers much more. Already on the first self-titled album everything is there, what comes later and much more. And the album sounds clearly progressive here.
The band’s propensity for the glamour was showcased both in the lyrics and in the album’s cover. Its sexy cover features a photo of the model Kari-Ann Muller, who later married Chris Jagger, the brother of Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones, in the 50’s style. These covers featuring known women would be a common thing in almost all their works.
In a way, Roxy Music’s debut is primarily weird, sometimes shrill art pop without musical boundaries with all kinds of psychedelic and glam rock parts. Roxy Music created something very special in the musical cosmos of those years. Roxy Music conveys a new, post-materialistic, post-idealistic spirit years before this becomes common knowledge. It offers an entertaining mix of styles, also within the songs, which unrestrainedly crosses all genre boundaries, whereby there is always a strong pinch of early 70’s glam art/rock music. But there are also hints of psychedelic and even the first harbingers of Eno’s ambient music. Here, you can clearly feel the decadence that made Roxy Music so important, especially for the later new wave. No wonder Roxy Music became such an inspiration for the post-progressive years.
“Re-Make/Re-Model” opens brilliantly the album in a grandiose rock style. Here, each member could shine, especially MacKay and Manzanera, which would be the pillars of the band with Ferry. “Ladytron”, despite its bizarre start, it’s a melodic song where we can see Eno’s hand. Also deserves to be mentioned MacKay’s oboe and the powerful drums of Thompson. “If There Is Something” has two distinct parts. Begins as a calm song but gradually becomes more intense. Here, the performance of MacKay shines, well supported by Manzanera and Thompson on the back. “Virginia Plain” wasn’t part of the original UK LP. This is an interesting song that was originally released as a single. It has good interesting appointments by Eno. “2 H.B.”, as the name says, is a tribute to Humphrey Bogart. It’s a beautiful song with the main emphasis on Ferry and his lyrics. It has also a nice and interesting spacey and futuristic keyboard work. “The Bob (Medley)” is about the Battle of Britain in the WWII. It’s more experimental and original than the previous one. It’s a good and interesting song very original. “Chance Meeting” is one of the most original and bold songs of the band. It’s one of their most avant-garde and experimental songs, mainly due to the futuristic sound of Eno’s synthesizers. “Would You Believe?” is one of the most atypical Roxy Music’s songs. It’s a typical Rock’n’Roll song with interesting individual performances by all members. “Sea Breezes” is a great song, very beautiful but very strange too. It has a quiet and slow beginning followed by a long experimental part. It’s another avant-garde and experimental song. “Bitters End” is a nice and bizarre song that seems be part of the ambience of a cabaret show. It brings some fun to the end of the album.
Conclusion: “Roxy Music” is an excellent, original and a fantastic debut musical work of the group. “Roxy Music” and “For Your Pleasure” are the two albums that represent the first musical period of the band which corresponds to the most experimental and avant-garde period of them. They represent also the most interesting phase for all progheads. Some songs of this album remind me the new wave, especially “Ladytron” that reminds me the debut Simple Minds’ album “Life In A Day”, which aren’t surprising because Roxy Music is one of the greatest inspirations of the new wave movement. To finish, I strongly recommend this album to all fans of the progressive rock music, especially for those who don’t have the idea that the progressive rock is only for the traditional progressive bands like Genesis, Yes, King Crimson and Pink Floyd. However, you must have your mind open to hear this original and unique progressive band.
Music was my first love.
John Miles (Rebel)
