Roxy Music, Avalon

Roxy Music, Avalon - I keep returning to this album time after time, year after year, and always, I am richly rewarded. The music seems to exist in some magical time-warp that keeps it fresh and inspiring here twenty-two odd years on. Bryan Ferry and co. fully realize in one neat, concise package all the musings, experimentation, and experience they had for the ten years prior, in this georgeous set of utterly sumptuous songs. As romantic as any balladeer's work, as silky smooth as any art pop ever dreamed of being, and as accomplished a group of rock musicians as ever graced a studio or stage, Roxy plays all its cards on this one. As stunning as the sound is, the lyricism and aching beauty of the perfomances make the words seem mythic and out of time. Add one sweet Haitian chantuese wailing away above the mix and you are soaring on a soundscape that promises to transport, and truly does.