Wonder Drummer Wanted For An Avante-Rock Group

News reached us early last month that “The Nation's Favourite” BBC Radio 1 is to release an album of covers featuring modern artists re-interpreting one top hit from each year of Radio 1's 40-year existence. A lot of this album looks terrible. Most of it looks pointless. The Cox household is, however, particularly excited about the prospect of Kylie "doing" the Roxy Music hit Love Is The Drug.

Roxy Music were formed in the winter of 1970/1 by famous ceramics teacher Bryan Ferry. Given a leg up by King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp (whom Ferry had unsuccessfully auditioned for), they released their eponymous debut album in June 1972 and went vaguely supernova.

I was initiated into its ways by a mysterious chap in a darkened pub somewhere off The Strand, back in the murky days of 1999. He gave me a cd of his own awful songs that also had these two beauties at the end. The actual album will set you back less than a fiver at your local Music & Video Exchange. So go. Now. Or when it's open. Or if you’re elderly or infirm, try here.

Calm but driving, 2HB is one of the most beautiful moments in early 70's rock. A serene musical cousin of early Kraftwerk or Neu!, Ferry sings a tribute to Humphrey Bogart (2HB – you see?), quoting Casablanca over tightly focused drums and bass, floaty echoing guitars, synth and woodwind. This version comes from a John Peel Session broadcast on 23rd May 1972.



Roxy Music - 2HB (Peel Session - 1972)


By contrast, Ladytron is bawdy and lusty, building and building until its libido explodes into a galloping, rhythmic duel between thrusting guitar and squawking oboe, not just once but twice, before rolling over and falling asleep. The dirty scoundrel.

Taken from a TV show broadcast in 1972, this version is notable for the presenter not only getting the name of the song wrong, but also referring to singer and songwriter "Bryan Ferris". Those were the days.



Roxy Music - Ladytron (NNC2 - 1972)


Casanova Cox


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