release date: Jun. 3, 1985
format: vinyl / cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,96]
producer: Rhett Davies & Bryan Ferry
label: EG Records / Polydor K.K. - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 1. "Sensation" - 2. "Slave to Love" (5 / 5) - 3. "Don't Stop the Dance" (4 / 5) - 5. "Windswept" - 7. "Valentine" - 8. "Stone Woman"
6th studio album by Bryan Ferry follows seven years after The Bride Stripped Bare (1978), and here Ferry has paired up with Rhett Davies as the album producers. All tracks except one (track #3 by Bryan Ferry and Rhett Davies) are exclusively credited Ferry.
Stylistically, Ferry moves further up the 'art pop' alley and makes his so far boldest 'sophisti-pop' album with strong bonds to the final Roxy Music album Avalon (1982), which also featured Rhett Davies as co-producer.
The album was met by critical acclaim and topped the charts in several countries including the UK, as Ferry's only solo album, and it's also his only Platinum-selling album in the UK. The album spawned three singles: tracks #2, 3 and 5, peaking at #10, #21 and #46 respectively on the UK singles chart.
I recall buying the album upon its release at a time when I found it a bit too smooth; however, over the years I have returned to it and basically find it his best solo album to date. Also, in retrospect the album simply stands out as a cornerstone in modern sound production.
Highly recommendable.
