ROXY MUSIC Schallplatten & CDs

Review: Rather than endlessly reinterpreting what the best of Roxy Music's catalogue truly is, why not just reissue this classic best-of collection from Virgin? Made available on wax for the first time ever, 'The Best Of Roxy Music' contains every hit from 'Love Is The Drug' to 'Angel Eyes', alongside lesser known bits such as 'Over You'. And of course, the band's aristocratic version of John Lennon's 'Jealous Guy' is on there too. Just in time for an anniversary tour, too.

Review: The 1982 glam-rock swan song for British rock group Roxy Music sees another limited reissue, a departure from the more edgy and abrasive sounds the group went for prior. The word that people constantly use to describe 'Avalon' is mature, in multiple senses of the word. At its core, the record is sensual and seductive make-out material, a 10 track package pining on romance named after the fantastical romantic gesture of King Arthur's body being sent to the titular island. It's plain to see why 'Avalon' is the band's most acclaimed and influential project, spawning off other New Wave acts like Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran and Tears for Fears. 'More Than This', the title track, has stood the test of time and is still playlisted and cited as one of the greatest British New Wave tracks of all time. 'Avalon' is accessible, seductive and, without doubt, a classic.

Review: A romantic snapshot in time from Roxy Music's 1976 Siren tour, 'The Thrill Of It All' captures the band at their peak, and bundles their restrained emotion into a burgeoning slice of 12" vinyl. Not to be confused with their compilation album of the same name, we get a glimpse into the performative habits of a band whose touring schedule had them visit Japan, Europe, Australia and the US. From the title track all the way through to 'Editions Of You', the band's 9-strong lineup on this live album is tireless, making their way through a gargantuan setlist with ease.

Review: Stranded is the third album for Roxy Music, and most notably it was the first after Brian Eno had departed. It was also the first album on which Ferry shared songwriting duties with Andy Mackay and Phil Mazanera, and so it captures the band in that moment of transition away from synthesiser sparkle towards a fuller, more rockist sound. The pianos and guitars pile on, creating a more driving sound even on the softer tracks like 'Just Like You', but there's still a thread of the unusual tucked away in every track - that curious magic which made Roxy Music such a vital force in 70s music.

Review: Roxy Music's fourth and most phase-heavy album 'Country Life' now gets a half-speed reissue by Miles Showell at Abbey Road Studios, as part of a brand new effort to have every one of their albums repressed in their utmost quality, and repackaged in glossy new covers. Career highlight songs like 'Out Of The Blue', 'Prairie Rose' and 'All I Want Is You' sound better than ever here, doing justice to its comparatively pessimistic sound. It's still got that Bryan Ferry-ish, romantic aristocratic vibe, though!

Review: For Your Pleasure was Roxy Music's second album, and the last to feature Brian Eno before he sprang off into his illustrious career in ambient and experimental electronic music. Released in 1973, it found the band able to spend more time in the studio experimenting with their sound, which results in some unique ingredients not found elsewhere in Bryan Ferry's band's legacy. From the surrealist phasing treatment on the end of 'In Every Dream Home A Heartache' to tape loop effects applied elsewhere, it's an adventurous peak of early 70s rock, now lovingly remastered at half-speed for your audiophile pleasure.