ROXY MUSIC

"Roxy Music" is the eponymously titled debut full-length studio album by UK rock act Roxy Music. The album was released through Island Records in June 1972. Roxy Music formed in 1970 and after some early day lineup shuffles the lineup who recorded the debut album was completed in February 1972 when guitarist Phil Manzanera joined. The band signed to EG Management, who payed for a weeks studio time (with producer Peter Sinfield, who had just quit King Crimson) before Roxy Music were even signed to a label. So when the band were finally signed by Island Records, they had a completed album with cover artwork ready to be released.

Stylistically "Roxy Music" is quite the eclectic and interesting blend of different musical genres and elements. It´s often labelled art rock or in some cases glam rock, but it also features elements from 50s rock´n´roll and avant-garde and experimental music ideas. Lead vocalist Bryan Ferry has a relatively distinct sounding crooning vibrato laden vocal style and his stamp is felt everywhere on the tracks (he also composed all material on the album). Other than the vocals the music consists of rock´n´roll guitars, omnipresent saxophones, an energetic and organic playing rhythm section, and both piano and VCS3 synthesizer sounds/effects (even a bit of mellotron here and there).

"Roxy Music" is a relatively well produced effort, although it doesn´t reach the heights the next couple of releases would in terms of brilliant production values. For that its a bit rough around the edges. It´s of course still a very well sounding release. Powerful, detailed, and featuring a nice organic quality. Upon conclusion it´s a good quality debut album by Roxy Music, immediately establishing the eclectic nature of their music and the will to experiment with said music. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.