SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BRYAN FERRY & AMELIA BARRATT – LOOSE TALK

BRYAN FERRY & AMELIA BARRATT
LOOSE TALK
DENE JESMOND RECORDS

Bryan Ferry is one of the most important artists of the past five decades. And, he has never done the expected. In fact his entire career has been full of twists and turns that no one, maybe not even Ferry himself, could have predicted. If he only wrote the vast majority of the songs by Roxy Music, that would be more than enough to put him in the history books. But, when he went solo, for the first time in 1973 with These Foolish Things, he recorded an album of covers with some of the songs dating to the 1930s. Since then, he has recorded a tribute album to Bob Dylan, big band versions of Roxy Music songs, dance, rock, and absolutely everything in between. Now, he has teamed up with performance artist, writer, and painter Amelia Barratt for one of the most unique and interesting albums released this decade.

For Loose Talk, Ferry taps into his experimental side. Ferry is an artist, and this album reminds us all of his genius and fearlessness. He does sing, but he is more responsible for the music and layered sound found on the album. Ferry’s music is based on unused demos dating as far back as the 1970s. These older songs sound lost and have an eerie quality to them.

Barratt provides the narration, poetry, and stories and the two blend together perfectly. Her voice never betrays emotion, and the cool readings add to the overall ambience found on the album. Their first collaboration, “Star”,  from last year’s Ferry retrospective is not included here, and nor should it be. Loose Talk is a thematic album which touches on and addresses communication. But sometimes Barratt’s lyrics/poetry becomes vague and abstract, which lets the listener interpret the songs in their own way.

A song such as “Florist” tells the story of the person selling flowers outside a closed theatre, while “Orchestra” deals with the conductor, perhaps from the same theatre. The melody that Ferry creates for “Florist” is achingly beautiful and that would be enough. But Barratt’s story adds more melancholy to create a perfect moment. And, with all the songs here, there is so much more going on. Other songs are equally as beautiful and mysterious. “Cowboy Hat” or “Pictures On A Wall”, all create glimpses into lives accompanied by an almost unearthly soundtrack.

It is incredible that after over 50 years of creating music, Ferry can still surprise and astound listeners. Anyone expecting a new Avalon or Boys and Girls might be disappointed. But listening to Loose Talk with an openness, one will be rewarded with one of the most innovative and brilliant albums released this century.

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