Bryan Ferry: Dylanesque
Bryan Ferry indulges in a lifelong desire to sing Dylan's hits
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Monday, 12, Mar 2007 05:46
Virgin, out March 5th.
In a nutshell.
Bold. Wistful. Characterful. Aimlessly wonderful.
What's it all about?
Bryan Ferry, charismatic frontman of veteran glam-rock outfit Roxy Music, has here fulfilled a life-long dream by presenting an entire album of Dylan covers.
Spurred on by the success of his 1973 version of A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall, over three decades later Ferry has attempted his own take on 20 more Dylan numbers, 11 of which appear on Dylanesque.
Just as Dylan reinvents himself for every LP and every performance, Ferry has taken each track and moulded himself into it, while still retaining the essential Dylan-ness of the songs.
While the songs themselves are recognisable, their mood is often altered; beautifully bitter Positively 4th Street loses its cutting anger to make way for a softer sense of personal injury, while Baby Let Me Follow You Down and If Not For You have their tempos upped, lending them a lighter quality.
Who's it by?
Bryan Ferry first stirred eardrums and imaginations in the early 1970s, alongside his group Roxy Music which quickly gained cult popularity.
Arriving on the scene amidst an explosion of sex-fuelled, forward-thinking rock music, the group captured the public's attention with its striking talent, daring confidence and unconventional image.
The main man released his first solo offering in 1973, with the album These Foolish Things, turning several classics into hits.
His interpretation of The In Crowd in 1974 became an iconic anthem for his jet-setting generation.
Meanwhile, solo albums containing his own penmanship, such as Mamouna (1994) and Frantic (2002), as well as many Roxy Music tracks, revealed a talent that stretches beyond the vocal.
As an example.
"He woke up, the room was bare
He didn't see her anywhere
He told himself he didn't care, pushed the window open wide
Felt an emptiness inside, to which he just could not relate
Brought on by a simple twist of fate."
(Simple Twist of Fate)
Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys
Unlikely - this one's for hardcore music geeks and proud Ferry/Dylan collectors only.
What the others say
"But really, this is a rock-solid collection, far more suited to his fragile croon than the previous collection of covers." - BBC
"Ferry admits he has been prevaricating over this album since 1973, yet the results are more credible than he could ever have dared envisage." - The Guardian
So is it any good?
From the first beat of the rhythmic Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues it is clear that Ferry has taken this project seriously, projecting the same passion and distinct vocal power that is evident on his own vast music catalogue.
Risking being dwarfed or humiliated by his attempt at Knockin' on Heaven's Door, the glam god actually pulls off his courageous decision and manages a rendition that could easily rival its many counterparts.
All Along the Watchtower, also dripping with history, is given a further lift with Ferry's racing riffs and fiery energy, preserving and reviving the integrity of both himself and Dylan, as well as the unforgettable Jimi Hendrix.
Less obvious choices such as Gates of Eden are given a more subtle, soothing treatment, which will simultaneously breathe renewed life into their originals as comparisons are mulled over.
The only track which holds a question mark over it must be political epiphany The Times They Are A-Changin', which is merely sung as an echo of Bob's own, without any of the raspy nasal pazazz that previously carried it.
Simple Twist of Fate is the stand-out track of the album, redirecting its poignant philosophy and emotion at a new generation through the medium of Ferry's soaring sentimentality.
Covering Dylan could be likened to writing a thesis on Shakespeare - laden with the constant challenge of finding new things to say.
But there is evidently no better man for this laborious task than Bryan Ferry, who has written this thesis with sensitivity, insight and glorious musical showmanship intact.
7/10
Kate Horstead