I first saw Bryan Ferry with Roxy Music in 1976 at the now defunct Sam Houston Coliseum. I remember his then model/girlfriend Jerry Hall prancing around before the show and I thought how did a girl from Gonzalez, Texas end us with such a suave and sophisticated Englishman like Bryan Ferry? Jerry Hall graced the cover of Roxy Music’s album Siren and appeared in the video of Bryan Ferry’s solo hit “Let’s stick together”. She later set her sights on Mick Jagger.

Olympia is Bryan Ferry’s latest solo album in eight years consisting of new original material. At one point Olympia was intended to be a new Roxy Music album – the band’s first since Avalon released in 1982. It would have been interesting to see the return of the Roxy Music clan to a full album after a recording void of almost 30 years, and nearly 40 years for returning early member Brian Eno. However, original Roxy Music members Phil Manzanera, Andy Mackay and the elusive Brian Eno all make recognizable contributions on multiple tracks. The album also features all-star artists as Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead), Nile Rodgers (Chic), David Gilmour (Pink Floyd), Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) who co-wrote three tracks and Scissor Sisters as the backing band and collaborators on “Heartache by Numbers”. “You Can Dance” and “Alphaville” open the album by making you feel as if you are in a smoky night club.

Eight out of the ten songs were written or co-written by Ferry himself and it wouldn’t be a Bryan Ferry album without a few carefully chosen cover versions. One being a very Ferry-like version of Tim Buckley’s 1968 “Song to the Siren,” making it sound very much like the title song from his 1982 album “Avalon”. In addition to Buckley, Steve Winwood and Jim Capaldi’s “No Face No Name No Number,” as well as pieces by John Lennon and Elvis, are included as bonus tracks.

Still it’s a good album without the pressure of making it a Roxy Music comeback album. Bryan Ferry continues to do what he’s done best effortless for over three decades – being a suave lounge lizard persona which has persevered even at age 65. The more you listen to his work the more you will appreciate his music.

Check out the album at Amazon or at BryanFerry.com.



Image of Olympia cover from BryanFerry.com.
Image of Bryan Ferry from FanPix.net.