From: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org (avalon-digest) To: avalon-digest@smoe.org Subject: avalon-digest V12 #233 Reply-To: avalon@smoe.org Sender: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-avalon-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk avalon-digest Thursday, September 20 2007 Volume 12 : Number 233 Today's Subjects: ----------------- RE: [AVALON] Napoli Stupendo (do not read if you are unable to read, like J apparently) ["Martin Stockman" ] [AVALON] re - Stupendo etc... [] To leave the list, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon-digest ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2007 09:29:54 +0100 From: "Martin Stockman" Subject: RE: [AVALON] Napoli Stupendo (do not read if you are unable to read, like J apparently) The Horoscope sessions are clearly an unfinished, unpolished piece of work, but contain some interesting stuff. Midnight Train is really good, I think. With the right production maybe even a hit single. And, curiously, NYC is way better, far harder, than the Mamouna over-produced version. But Alphaville has the real gems that we must hope emerge in solo offerings or even Roxy. Love War, that suicide note to his marriage, You Can Dance and Alphaville must reach a wider audience that those of us lying in the bootleg gutter. As for Dylanesque, two great tracks, the rest pleasant enough; but is pleasant good enough? Martino - -----Original Message----- From: owner-avalon@smoe.org [mailto:owner-avalon@smoe.org] On Behalf Of Michiel van Sleen Sent: 19 September 2007 08:47 To: avalon@smoe.org Subject: Re: [AVALON] Napoli Stupendo (do not read if you are unable to read, like J apparently) Sterile yes, but of course most of it is still unfinished. The word I'd use to describe it in general is "searching". Searching for a melody mostly, but also within himself, and without. For love, for attention, inspiration, railwaystation etc. Michiel - ----- Original Message ----- From: To: Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 8:32 AM Subject: Re: [AVALON] Napoli Stupendo (do not read if you are unable to read) > Midnight train might not be his most creative offering, but that album > had a > different sound to it as a whole which was quite interesting and I think > still had his unique qualities. > > > But Horoscope is hideously sterile. Bryan clearly thinks so now, we > haven't > seen MT turn up on any official releases! > > J > > > ___________________________________________________________________________ > To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2007 12:34:30 +0200 From: "Michiel van Sleen" Subject: Re: [AVALON] Napoli Stupendo (do not read if you are unable to read, like J apparently) I agree with every syllable, Martino (especially the 'nesque'-one). Although NYC is one big rotten apple that spoils the rest and You Can Dance sucks. Greetings, M. Agreeable - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Martin Stockman" To: "'Michiel van Sleen'" ; Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 10:29 AM Subject: RE: [AVALON] Napoli Stupendo (do not read if you are unable to read, like J apparently) > The Horoscope sessions are clearly an unfinished, unpolished piece of > work, > but contain some interesting stuff. Midnight Train is really good, I > think. > With the right production maybe even a hit single. And, curiously, NYC is > way better, far harder, than the Mamouna over-produced version. But > Alphaville has the real gems that we must hope emerge in solo offerings or > even Roxy. Love War, that suicide note to his marriage, You Can Dance and > Alphaville must reach a wider audience that those of us lying in the > bootleg > gutter. > > As for Dylanesque, two great tracks, the rest pleasant enough; but is > pleasant good enough? > > Martino > > -----Original Message----- > From: owner-avalon@smoe.org [mailto:owner-avalon@smoe.org] On Behalf Of > Michiel van Sleen > Sent: 19 September 2007 08:47 > To: avalon@smoe.org > Subject: Re: [AVALON] Napoli Stupendo (do not read if you are unable to > read, like J apparently) > > Sterile yes, but of course most of it is still unfinished. > The word I'd use to describe it in general is "searching". > Searching for a melody mostly, but also within himself, and without. For > love, for attention, inspiration, railwaystation etc. > > Michiel > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: > To: > Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 8:32 AM > Subject: Re: [AVALON] Napoli Stupendo (do not read if you are unable to > read) > > >> Midnight train might not be his most creative offering, but that album >> had a >> different sound to it as a whole which was quite interesting and I think >> still had his unique qualities. >> >> >> But Horoscope is hideously sterile. Bryan clearly thinks so now, we >> haven't >> seen MT turn up on any official releases! >> >> J >> >> >> > ___________________________________________________________________________ >> To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon > > > ___________________________________________________________________________ > To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2007 06:39:05 -0400 From: kwil632057@aol.com Subject: Re: [AVALON] Napoli Stupendo The Horoscope sessions are clearly an unfinished, unpolished piece of work, Whatever state it's in, its still a xerox of the Avalon formula. Been there, done that. I don't think repeating a sound already perfected and polished 10 years previously on Avalon is in any way creative or interesting four albums on. At least Ferry has admitted to enjoying revisiting the sounds of the early Roxy albums - which bodes well for the creative energy of the new album... J ________________________________________________________________________ Get a FREE AOL Email account with unlimited storage. Plus, share and store photos and experience exclusively recorded live music Sessions from your favourite artists. Find out more at http://info.aol.co.uk/joinnow/?ncid=548. ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2007 12:38:17 -0400 From: "KB Porter" Subject: RE: [AVALON] Napoli Stupendo Ah, J, ever the optimist, in deed a blow of reality. Thank you. "At least Ferry has admitted to enjoying revisiting the sounds of the early Roxy albums - which bodes well for the creative energy of the new album..." Rough, Horoscope may be, but it is a gem of a 'demo'. Far from being 'knocked off' Perfected Avalon gush, Horoscope is to Ferry's aspirations what "The Divine Comedy" was to Dante who struggled, very successfully, for many, many years to perfect and thus complete his titanic trilogy. All BS aside, I'd like to comment on this album inspired by the deepest desires within the searching artist, Bryan Ferry. If the work is at all cathartic, "The 39 Steps" rushes forward in tempo, tension and intrigue as one easily recalls images of Cary Grant ensconced at Mount Rushmore: Hitchcock and Ferry, a likely duo of dark enigmatic and cryptic energy. "The Only Face" highlights the vulnerable portion of the artist who longs for, but denies himself, companionship of close meaning; self-love is all that is known. "N.Y.C." is, well, Upper Manhattan cum Harlem brought to music! Lush garbage can clashes, sirens galore, and who can get any sleep with all this racket goin' on. Great ambiance on the 'Candy Line' - not to be confused with upscale MOMA topiary. "Midnight Train" is devoid of superfluous avalon techno electro sound and chocked full of disenfranchised loss, not able to realize the meaning of a kiss, the unknown figure must leave before the affair has run its course: Our Mr. Ferry is left behind, alone, lonely and lost. Compounding the complexity of life, "Your Love Has Died" slowly gains rhythm and increasing voices. A fine bass line and stealthy guitars awaken the listener's senses. Wawa solicitations expose deep seeded betrayal and anger. There's hatred way down when love has died. This cold reality gives way to a cooking "Gemini Moon". More great bass and guitars, a funked-up sax swing is as Ferry jazzed gets. Those wicked little horn incubus taunts of 'Rockin' shrillness concoct the mighty heady and haunting brew which makes one wonder, 'is life fatal or prophetic'? Thereafter "Blinded By The Life" serves as a euphoric epithet to arabesque ambiance, a shrouded mystic ode to one's True Self, the distant trumpet's reverie foreboding apocalyptic calamity zeros on Ferry's spirituality to the nine's. As if to lighten the overall very dark tone cast throughout the aforementioned songs, a remodeled "Mother Of Pearl" cuddles, soothes and calms. Yet arousing, this rendition Is Much More seductive than the acclaimed 'make-out' piece called "Avalon". Pure sax-sexophone. A lonely dreamer, the joke of devotion, insidious inside. Ferry vocals throughout this album are very good, the majority of material is original. This unfinished work is superior to the 'finished' "Frantic" in terms of style, lyric, musical composition, imagery and substance. It's a pity to think Mr. Ferry has given up so easily on this - his dream. Salute Dante - a true patriot. Of course, some day I shall get around to "Dylanesque". I thank my 'lucky stars' that BF's back catalog is varied and vast. It keeps the inner beast soothed. Best wishes. KBP (Not the Morely. Right gender, wrong pseudonym. Time to surrender the fiver.) ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:59:58 +0000 From: Subject: [AVALON] re - Stupendo etc... Reading these posts on Horoscope and Alphaville felt compelled to throw in my tuppence worth.. Horoscope sounds at times like an Elkie Brooks album - especially that "see- saw" song." Midnight Train" would benefit from a different title, lyric and sense of direction... Agree that "N.Y.C" is better but SO WHAT...it's still a big badly cut topiary of an idea. Alphaville is a much more interesting collection.. but never understood the excitement over "Love War[s]" found it thick and plodding and hate it when he steals the name of another famous song. Thought "Cruel" was much better than Frantic version ..loved " Alphaville" and " You can dance" - sinister and fun - like the old days..which.. leads me to Alphaville's "A Fool For Love" - vocals reminiscent of Stranded,, wonderfull swirling swoony atmospherics - world's away from the awfull version on Frantic...same could be said of "Nobody Loves Me " It's as if Alphaville was a colour television and Frantic [ with the exception of the glorious "I Thought"] black and white... Bye bye Dave Stewart. Hello Dire Straits. As for Dylanesque.. well I've listened to it about 5 times only.. it makes me feel bleak and empty.I've tried to listen to it again and then end up rushing into the lounge to turn it off ! Most Roxy/Ferry images, album covers still manage to send little exciting signals to my eyes and then my brain.. Dylanesque's art work and publicity shots make me turn away in despair . - ----------------------------------------- Email sent from www.virginmedia.com/email Virus-checked using McAfee(R) Software and scanned for spam ___________________________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: unsubscribe avalon ------------------------------ End of avalon-digest V12 #233 ***************************** ======================================================================== For further info, mail majordomo@smoe.org with: info avalon-digest