Bryan Ferry: Frantic

By David Quantick

Q, April 2002

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Rating: Three Stars out of Five

Unwilling to be a staple of Old Man FM, Bryan Ferry continues to make records that he finds challenging. Like his former rival David Bowie, Ferry has covered so much ground that it's hard not to repeat himself. Frantic sees Ferry both innovating and consolidating.

His obsession with Dylan is still there - Don't Think Twice (It's Alright) and It's All Over Now Baby Blue are both done well. The bow-tied romance also remains : Fool For Love glides - of course ! - out of Richard The Lionheart's Medieval ballad Ja Nun Hons Pris.

Of the collaborators, Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood adds edginess to Hiroshima and Dave Stewart brings pop melody to Cruel and Goddess Of Love. Perhaps most intriguingly. ex-Ferry nemesis Brian Eno adds clanky keyboards to I Thought, the best track here.

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Text copyright 2002 Q, used without permission.