Roxy Music
– Avalon
By the time Avalon arrived in 1982, Roxy Music had shed its art-rock chaos for something more refined, more polished—yet no less intoxicating. This wasn’t the sound of a band pushing boundaries through shock tactics and sonic experiments; this was something smoother, subtler, and more elegant. Bryan Ferry, ever the romantic, croons through a haze of late-night nostalgia, while the music sways like a candlelit dance floor just before dawn.
Best of…
Where early Roxy Music albums thrived on unpredictability, Avalon is deliberate, almost hypnotic in its consistency. Phil Manzanera’s guitars shimmer rather than shred, Andy Mackay’s saxophone drifts in and out like a ghost, and Ferry’s vocals—always the focal point—are more restrained, exuding a quiet ache rather than the theatrical flamboyance of the past. It’s lush, layered, and deeply atmospheric, a soundscape drenched in reverb and synths that feel more like ocean waves than musical notes.
It’s easy to call Avalon Roxy Music’s most mature work, but that undersells its brilliance. It’s not just grown-up—it’s a masterful distillation of everything they’d been reaching for. The decadence of their early years remains, but it’s no longer painted in neon; it’s bathed in soft gold. Every track feels like a perfect goodbye, not just to the band’s career but to an era, a feeling, a dream slipping through the fingers.
Choice Tracks
Avalon
The title track floats in on a bed of lush synths, with Ferry’s vocals sounding weightless. A distant female backing vocal adds an ethereal glow, making this one of the most hauntingly beautiful songs in their catalog.
More Than This
The ultimate bittersweet anthem. Melancholy draped in velvet, Ferry’s voice is almost conversational, delivering lines that feel like whispered confessions. The song never fully resolves, fading into the mist like an unanswered question.
Take a Chance with Me
A little livelier than the rest of the album, this track builds from a dreamy intro into something unexpectedly urgent. Manzanera’s guitar work shines, reminding you that even in their most polished moments, Roxy Music could still surprise.
The Main Thing
A hypnotic, bass-driven groove that feels like a dance track from another dimension. It’s moody, minimalist, and one of the album’s most entrancing deep cuts.
To Turn You On
The sound of late-night longing, wrapped in Ferry’s silk-drenched vocals and a melody that feels like it’s floating just out of reach. A song for those moments when romance feels both exhilarating and completely doomed.
Avalon wasn’t just a swan song for Roxy Music—it was a blueprint for a whole generation of sophisticated pop. It influenced everyone from Talk Talk to Bryan Ferry’s own solo career, proving that style and substance don’t have to be at odds. This wasn’t the sound of a band fading away; it was the sound of them walking off into the night, perfectly composed, leaving behind something timeless.