Avonmore (Bryan Ferry) | 4/5

SINGAPORE - Roxy Music began as an art-rock collective in the ’70s but morphed into a slick, sophisticated, smooth-groove soul-funk outfit 10 years later, coming up with sublime offerings such as Avalon in 1982. Soon after, Ferry would revive his solo career to muted success with his recordings reflecting a need to return to Avalon, with varied results. On Avonmore (the name of a river in Ireland), Ferry - with a host of celebrated collaborators - has perhaps finally produced an album worthy of comparison with Avalon. Amongst the stellar cast are Johnny Marr, Niles Rodgers, Mark Knopfler and Steve Jones guitarists who invest their personalities and skills with aplomb. But Ferry is as usual, the ringleader: His svelte vocals still as hypnotic as ever. Loop De Li, Soldier Of Fortune (co-written with Marr), Driving Me Wild and a superb cover of Send In The Clowns are the highlights but overall, this is one of ’80s music lovers to savour.