Flesh + Blood
suggested that
Roxy Music
were at the end of the line, but they regrouped and recorded the lovely
Avalon
, one of their finest albums. Certainly, the lush, elegant soundscapes of
are far removed from the edgy
avant-pop
of their early records, yet it represents another landmark in their career. With its stylish, romantic washes of synthesizers and
Bryan Ferry
's elegant, seductive croon,
simultaneously functioned as sophisticated make-out music for yuppies and as the maturation of
synth pop
.
Ferry
was never this romantic or seductive, either with
Roxy
or as a solo artist, and
shimmers with elegance in both its music and its lyrics.
"More Than This,"
"Take a Chance with Me,"
"While My Heart Is Still Beating,"
and the title track are immaculately crafted and subtle songs, where the shifting synthesizers and murmured vocals gradually reveal the melodies. It's a rich, textured album and a graceful way to end the band's career. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine