In the absence of a bona fide Roxy Music release. there appears to be a sudden rush of cover versions to fill the void. You know how it is, you wait ages and then three come along at once...

First up is German rocker Michaela Melian, whose new album 'Los Angeles' contains a version of the rarely-covered title track from 'Manifesto'. If the name sounds familiar, it's only because Melian has previous form...her 2004 album Baden Baden contained a version of 'A Song For Europe'.

You can hear and purchase Melian's take on Manifesto here. It's very German...

http://www.boomkat.com/item.cfm?id=54428

A more dancable solution comes from new indie band Cicada who release their new single, a version of 'Same Old Scene' on February 11th 2008.

According to the PR puff...

'The ballsy version of the track sounds like a fizzing electro pop bomb for the Noughties and fans of the original have apparently given their seal of approval of the adaptation...'

Described by The Guardian as the latest 'Top indie dance crew' their eponymous album was released on keyboardist Alex Payne's own label Critical Mass without any major label marketing on board. Outside of the band, members Ron and Alex’s reputation as one of dance music’s finest remix outfits is currently being enhanced via hit mixes for The Enemy, Soft Cell, and Blu Marten, amongst others.

Here's their myspace page, where you can hear the two versions of the track in their entirity: http://www.myspace.com/cicada1

Last but definitely not least, UK artist Alan Connor, fresh from a Top 30 hit in the UK Dance charts, is releasing his version of 'Dance Away' at the end of January 2008, and you may be hearing this in the clubs right now.

Alan is an habitue of this very website, and is a huge fan of Roxy Music, so it's natural that he wanted to cover a Roxy tune. Alan takes up the story:

'We've filmed a video and had a photo shoot which we feel captures the essence of Bryan Ferry and has a nod to Roxy with the girls on the cover. The version is faithful to the original, but faster and has a bit more zing to it.'

The release includes an astonishing NINE mixes of the song by different mixers and has been produced by dance notables 7th Heaven, who between them have worked with just about everyone in the business. Just to keep the Roxy connection going, one of the mixes is by Porl Young who started life as an engineer in Phil Manzanera's recording studio.

Alan has been kind enough to provide me with a version of the song, and I think it's an excellent take on one of Ferry's finest moments. I'll tell you where you can get hold of the single nearer the release date.

Alan's myspace site is here: http://www.myspace.com/alanconnor

Update

Amazingly, an hour after I wrote this post, I found ANOTHER Roxy cover released this week! Nothing People's 'In The City' single includes a version of 'A Really Good Time' as the b-side.

http://www.victimoftime.com/articles/breaking-sounds-nothing-people-i-cityi/