Scan barcode
A review by saareman
Avalon by Simon A. Morrison, Simon A. Morrison
3.0
Swan Song
Review of the Bloomsbury Academic paperback edition (May 4, 2021).
Avalon was the final studio album of British art-rock band Roxy Music (1970-1983), which had also been the launching pad for the career of Brian Eno. By the time of the 1982 album, only 3 of the 6 original members remained and studio musicians filled in on the other parts. Singer and main songwriter Bryan Ferry was already concentrating on his solo career and much of Avalon is dominated with his world-weary ennui although the instrumental tracks and brief solos are all quite striking and set the mood very effectively.
Simon Morrison's book for the 33 and 1/3 series is yet another example of much attention paid to non-album elements and not enough to the album itself. At the time of release it had the feel of a goodbye to the decade of the band's existence merging with the Arthurian mythology evoked by the album title and the cover art. In a way it signified the end of Empire as well. That impression is reinforced even more these days in the days of Brexit. It still remains a captivating listening experience, but Morrison doesn't quite capture it. A 3-star "Like" is the best I can say.
The cover of the "Avalon" LP album (E.G. Records 1982). Image sourced from Discogs.
Soundtrack
Listen to the full 10-track Avalon album via a single stream YouTube posting here or track by track via a YouTube playlist which starts here or on Spotify here.
Bonus Track
Roxy Music reunited for a concert tour in 2001 and backup singer Yanick Etienne (who sang the ethereal high-pitched ooh-ooh's in the original studio recording) joined them on stage for performances of the title track "Avalon", one of which you can see on YouTube here.
Trivia and Links
Roxy Music's Avalon was published as part of the Bloomsbury Academic 33 1/3 series of books surveying significant record albums, primarily in the rock and pop genres. The GR Listopia for the 33 1/3 series is incomplete with only 38 books listed as of June 2024. For an up-to-date list see Bloomsbury Publishing with 197 books listed as of June 2024.
Review of the Bloomsbury Academic paperback edition (May 4, 2021).
Now the party's over, I'm so tired
Then I see you coming, Out of nowhere
Much communication in a motion
Without conversation or a notion
Avalon
When the samba takes you, Out of nowhere
And the background's fading, Out of focus
Yes the picture's changing, Every moment
And your destination, You don't know it
Avalon - Opening verses of the title track "Avalon".
Avalon was the final studio album of British art-rock band Roxy Music (1970-1983), which had also been the launching pad for the career of Brian Eno. By the time of the 1982 album, only 3 of the 6 original members remained and studio musicians filled in on the other parts. Singer and main songwriter Bryan Ferry was already concentrating on his solo career and much of Avalon is dominated with his world-weary ennui although the instrumental tracks and brief solos are all quite striking and set the mood very effectively.
Simon Morrison's book for the 33 and 1/3 series is yet another example of much attention paid to non-album elements and not enough to the album itself. At the time of release it had the feel of a goodbye to the decade of the band's existence merging with the Arthurian mythology evoked by the album title and the cover art. In a way it signified the end of Empire as well. That impression is reinforced even more these days in the days of Brexit. It still remains a captivating listening experience, but Morrison doesn't quite capture it. A 3-star "Like" is the best I can say.
The cover of the "Avalon" LP album (E.G. Records 1982). Image sourced from Discogs.
Soundtrack
Listen to the full 10-track Avalon album via a single stream YouTube posting here or track by track via a YouTube playlist which starts here or on Spotify here.
Bonus Track
Roxy Music reunited for a concert tour in 2001 and backup singer Yanick Etienne (who sang the ethereal high-pitched ooh-ooh's in the original studio recording) joined them on stage for performances of the title track "Avalon", one of which you can see on YouTube here.
Trivia and Links
Roxy Music's Avalon was published as part of the Bloomsbury Academic 33 1/3 series of books surveying significant record albums, primarily in the rock and pop genres. The GR Listopia for the 33 1/3 series is incomplete with only 38 books listed as of June 2024. For an up-to-date list see Bloomsbury Publishing with 197 books listed as of June 2024.