ROXY MUSIC ALLMUSIC SERIES

ROXY MUSIC ALLMUSIC SERIES

'Manifesto' and 'Flesh and Blood', hardly deemed art-rock albums anymore, are mostly a series of concise pop songs with layers of stylish disco rhythms. With 'Siren', however, the band started abandoning their intoxicating blend of art rock and glam pop to concentrate on Ferry's suave, crooner persona. With the departure of Brian Eno, 'Stranded' and 'Country Life' became less experimental but still remained fairly adventurous. Of particular interest to prog fans are the eponymous 'Roxy Music' and 'For Your Pleasure', a sort of rock music potpourri with Ferry's 50's tinged vocals over distinctive 60's rhythms and 70's electronics. Between 1972-82, they released 8 studio albums, 3 live cds and numerous compilation disks as well as a couple of box sets. Brian ENO (synths), Phil MANZANERA (lead guitar), Andrew MACKAY (sax and oboe), Graham SIMPSON (bass) and Paul THOMPSON (drums) completed the original line-up. They were led by composer, singer and visual artist Bryan Ferry. Scratch beneath the glamour, however, and you find some very talented artists, some of whom went on to pursue highly successful (if not necessarily prog) solo careers. Their music was scarcely anything more than well-dressed 70's pop, oozing with hollowed-out sensuality and presented via original artwork, stage shows and wild costumes that crystallized the hippest style of the day. Formed in 1971 in London, UK - Hiatus 1976/1978 - Disbanded in 1983 - Reunited intermittently 2001/2011ДЄ band Oscar Wilde would certainly have approved of: retro-chic extravaganza, a cross between sophistication and street-wise 20th century dandyism.

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