Bryan Ferry- November 5, Tovstonogov BDT. Concert supporting the release of a new album “Dylanesque”. The album is devoted to creative work of Bob Dylan …
Bryan Ferry –one of the last rock-n-roll romantics. In 1956 he happened to attend Bill Heilly’s concert in Sunderland-and this had changed his life. “Northern soul” phenomenon? Dandy-fop ideology? Generation of art-college students and professors becoming rock-stars? Ferry has left his negligently careless traces on all British pop-culture pathways. His group Roxy Music as if by chance had weaved together art-rock and glam-rock. As for his solo works, Ferry has always been balancing between sultry cutting pop and exotic cold vanguard, performing both topical in 80-th electro-pop and pre-war jazz masterpieces with equal success.
At the beginning of XXI century Bryan brought Roxy Music together again and set on a tour, as a result of which a wonderful concert album was issued in 2003. Nevertheless, Ferry wouldn’t be himself if at any time he couldn’t give up any profitable affair and once again deep into a ghostly whirlpool of music of his spirits. This time he had had a whim to record an album-dedication to good old Bob Dylan. Why not? He had already performed several songs of this bard in his solo albums of mid-70s…
On “Dylanesque” the outstanding rock-decadent is accompanied by heroes of British rock. The guitarist Chris Spedding is Brian’s old friend and colleague. It’s quite often that these two helped each other record their solo works. It was Ferry who in 2005 performed mouth-organ on Spedding’s “Click Clack”. The bass guitarist Guy Pratt had shown up even in Pink Floyd during the vague years of their conflict with Rodger Waters. The drummer Andy Newmark , who also has some connection with Pink Floyd (more precisely, with the album “The Final Cut”),used to be a part of late Roxy Music cast and record music with John Lennon. The record was managed by such grand masters as Bob Clearmountain and Bob Ludwig. On the one hand, with such a team it would be difficult to spoil the tricks which originally had been recorded just to the guitar and mouth-organ. On the other –having approached Dylan’s songs sung in different variations more than once, maestro Brian proved capable of a fresh view and a new word where everything seemed to have been said.
For instance, the most well-known “The Times They Are A-Changing”, which is already familiar to the latest music lover generation in Blackmore’s Night performance, these Sonny and Cher of the newest times. The rudiment Dylan’s waltz rhythm in their version becomes more distinct. But Ferry, who seems to be destined to waltz and never stop rejects such rhythms performing the trick as strong rock. What about “It’s Not for You”? The song had been performed by Olivia Newton-John and George Harrison. It’s OK with “Ossy” but it would have been very difficult to contribute something to the version of a “mystical beatle”. Nevertheless Ferry managed to do this- to tell the truth not without the help of one more old colleague from Roxy music times, who was no less mystical than the late Harrison, Brian Eno. Electronic fields synthesized by this great alchemist of sound have attached some absolutely new features to this old song.
On the album Ferry almost never steps aside from his usual singing manner –pretentious, relaxed and out-of body. Nevertheless, in comparison with his version “All I Really Wanna Do” the same song performed by the heroes of 60-s The Byrds turns out Sso pop-like and slicked-down. The situation is almost the same with elegant and slightly carelessly performed “Knocking’ On Heaven’s Door”. Having heard this version you’ll forget both goblin-like rock ballad by Guns’N’Roses and Eric Clapton’s “white reggae’ and ever death-rattling whisper of Rodger Watters. Although it seems there is nothing special…
Only in “All Along The Watchover” did Ferry allow Spedding, Pratt and Newmark to preserve some hints of Jimmy Hendrix’s performance of this buster. But we would be rather disappointed if it hadn’t happened, wouldn’t we?
Of all Ferry’s albums, where he referred to the other’s repertoire –this one is the best!