I was listening into Billy Sloan’s show last night and he was talking about fellow music journo/music presenter David Hepworth and his belief that 1971 was the most creatively rich year in the history of rock music. But when I read this review of Roxy Music’s first two albums, it would seem – at least as far as the UK goes – that it would be more like 1972/3.
I have been fully aware since very early on in my mega Minds fandom what a major influence Roxy Music was on them…detectible in Mick MacNeil’s synth playing, and Jim’s crooning Ferry-esque voice – most likely indirect influences in sound rather than brazen pastiche.
But, unlike Bowie, who I explored via my own way to him, I never felt a huge urge to dive into Roxy. Until I read this review on their first two albums.
Only very recently (the day after the album signing at the HMV in Glasgow, in fact) did Jim share a picture of Roxy’s reissued debut adorning the vinyl section next to Walk Between Worlds and the “wow” factor of the inner 13 year old boy Kerr was wonderfully palpable with the words.
Even that was not enough of a pull to have me exploring their sound. I have been exposed to elements over the years, of course…Virginia Plain, Ladytron, The Strand all making enough impact on me to be able conjure them up for replay in my internal turntable. But having read this review this evening, I feel as though I must “pull my finger out” and sonically explore!
This is what good writing can do! It can open the mind to something it has been, until prior, closed off to exploring or examining. Even despite something usually intoxicating and magnetic enough to pique interest with things on all other occasions not being able generate the interest.
Congratulations on a stellar job Sophia Deboick – you have managed to achieve something that Jim has failed to do in almost 4 years on influence…get me interested enough in Roxy Music to explore their beginnings. You, my dear, deserve a medal! 🙂
