The title track of Roxy Music’s 1982 album Avalon is a dreamy, mellow favorite of mine. Sadly, it came from the band’s final studio album. Roxy Music later reunited for live performances, but they never recorded another studio album. If this was their studio farewell, they went out at a creative high point.
“Avalon” is made for good headphones. The rhythm never pushes; it glides. Bryan Ferry’s restrained vocal, Andy Mackay’s saxophone, Phil Manzanera’s guitar and the spacious production surround you until the atmosphere becomes as important as the melody.
Then Yanick Étienne enters. You may not know the Haitian singer’s name, but after one listen you will remember her voice. Ferry reportedly heard her singing in an adjacent New York studio and invited her to contribute. Her soaring, largely wordless backing vocal is not merely decoration—it is the moment the song seems to leave the ground.
Turn off the lights, put on the headphones and let “Avalon” cocoon you.The title track of Roxy Music’s “Avalon” album is a dreamy mellow favorite of mine. Sadly, this came from Roxy Music’s last studio album. They definitely went out on a high note, it is a fantastic album.
This is a song made for cranking up with earbuds or headphones, something to cocoon you in the music and let the atmosphere take over.
You may have not heard of the name of Yanick Étienne before. But she puts her stamp on this song as a background singer. One listen and you’ll catch her.