Bryan Ferry - Olympia

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On his thirteenth solo release, and the first collection of original material (save for two covers) since 1994’s Mamouna – Ferry enlists an impressive roster of collaborators.

The gust list on the album includes: David Gilmour, Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Johnny Greenwood (Radiohead), Scissor Sisters and all the original members of Roxy Music – which might indicate a possible nostalgic musical nod to the band’s work.

An assumption which isn't entirely false, because at times it does sound a bit like a modern-day Avalon, as if Roxy Music were a modern band making 80’s glam/art/pop rock inspired sophisticated ballads – it all sounds familiar, but not desperate or affected which is a tell-tale sign of Bryan Ferry’s craftsmanship.

Opener “You Can Dance” is the lost Avalon track – the mood varies multiple times along the record – the glitzy seductive rock is in abundance such as on “Alphaville” , the moody, forlorn “Me Oh My” and the glamorized dance-y track “Shameless”, but Olympia’s least calculated moments are, funnily enough, found on the covers “Song to the Siren” ( Tim Buckley)  and “No Face, No Name, No Number” (Traffic).

Even though Olympia isn’t exactly a Roxy Music homage, it never really hurts to just keep doing what you do best – and in Bryan Ferry’s case that is always going to be sleek, polished 80’s nostalgic music.

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