My knowledge of Mr Ferrari and Roxy Music doesn’t go much further than the hits, which I like, but the song in the comments popped up in my Spotify release radar playlist recently and after ignoring it for a while, I clicked. Blimey, I thought. What’s Byron (and Amelia Barratt) up to here? It’s rather good.
The album Loose Talk came out last week and I’ve listened to it plenty since and I like it a lot, despite my usual aversion to spoken word. Ferry/Roxy backing tracks from the vaults, some updated, with received English recital over the top. Is that selling it to you…?
Not reviewing it as I don’t have enough Roxy/Ferry/spoken word references to do it justice but thought it was worth highlighting as something very interesting for a bloke of 79/80 (not forgetting Amelia Barratt) to be releasing. Also be interested to hear what those with greater knowledge of the man and his music think.
Not sure to what extent it will stay the course for me – I really do struggle with spoken word and while the words are intriguing I’m not sure how much repeat listening they’ll stand – but for the last few days I’ve been very glad it exists.
A bit of previous discussion and an interesting Rockonteurs episode.
Apologies @Bargepole due to my general lack of interest in Ferry/Roxy I’d missed this thread. Will seek out that Rockenteurs episode.
No apology needed at all…just thought it was handy to link.both threads in one place.
As a big fan of BF and the Rockonteurs, I’m biased, but I thought their chat was fascinating.
Weirdly, it’s one of the very few times I’ve heard BF talk at length, and he sounded just how I imagined: well-read, well-travelled, interesting, and maybe a little bit reticent.
I’m looking forward to the album as I’m glad he’s trying sonething new, but I’m hoping there’s going to be a special edition containing the instrumental versions – the Guardian said they’re brilliant but will be coming to streaming (which I don’t do).
You’re right, the instrumental versions would be great to have on their own. They are indeed brilliant.
Well said @Bargepole,
Please don’t stop posting stuff because of an overlap @Guiri.
When this kind of thing happens, it’s a healthy sign that several of us are interested in the same. I also completely missed Bargey’s thread.
Going off piste for a moment….
Thinking about spoken word artists reminded me of loyle Carner.
I knew nothing about him until I saw him play for 10,000 young Danes and me at Roskilde.
He’s from South London and she spoke very movingly about the toxic masculinity that he endured as a kid.
And in a similar vein,, I have to go off-piste again and mention the remarkable Dry Cleaning.
On the subject of spoken-word music, here’s a clip of English Teacher and Richard Hawley covering Joy Division’s Transmission.
I have questions: apart from Richard Hawley being a National Treasure, what exactly is he doing there? More importantly, Transmission only has three verses and, as there’s a music stand on stage, didn’t anyone think it would be a good idea to Google the words before performing it in public?
Richard seems to be enjoying himself. And of course English Teacher must have been very chuffed to play with a local hero.
One excellent YT comment..
Mind blowing that the original was released 46 years ago. If Joy Division had covered Vera Lynn there would have been less of a time gap.
ON FIRS LISTEN, I REALLY LIKE IT.
SOME BACKGROUND…
https://ameliabarratt.com/
https://www.npr.org/2025/03/29/nx-s1-5319175/bryan-ferry-and-amelia-barratt-discuss-loose-talk-their-new-spoken-word-album