Early Roxy Music: the musical range, the songs, the talented players, the feather boas, boots and make up, the styling, theatre and production, the mix of traditional and new electronic instruments. It was heart-stopping and unique, transforming glam into art in music, focused as much on sleeve design as it was on songcraft.
Those first three Roxy albums; the self-titled debut, For Your Pleasure and Stranded, were in equal measure, both cultural and musical moments. I listened to the deluxe reissue of Roxy Music this week, with its live and Peel Sessions bonus tracks, but chose the final studio mix of Ladytron for today’s song.
Ladytron typifies Roxy. It’s a suite of sorts, comprising a distinct beginning, middle and end. It draws you in with Brian Eno’s electronic, “alien” space winds intro, feeding the atmosphere for the title. Then Andy Mackay’s oboe (a first in rock, maybe) and then Bryan Ferry’s melody, beautifully phrased and sung with accented bass notes before Phil Manzanera’s guitars, sax and synth move between harmony and atonality to close in front of Thompson and Simpson’s muscular rhythm section.
After Roxy phase one, as hinted at by the smooth Avalon, Ferry became the interpreter and crooner, while Eno left to seek collaboration elsewhere and become an ambient pioneer. However in early Roxy, they were the perfect ignition for art rock. Take a listen and have a good weekend!
I started a music WhatsApp group in 2023. I send one song a week on a Friday, with links to both Apple and Spotify, and an accompanying narrative/capsule piece. You’ll read it here on a Sunday. If you want to engage about a song, get a playlist or just get in touch, email me on markgrosin@gmail.com.
Listen to Ladytron on Spotify here and Apple Music here.
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