Bryan Ferry - BAate Noire

Digitally Remastered Edition of the Roxy Master's Second Post Roxy Solo Album. Produced with Former Madonna Helmsman Patrick Leonard. Includes the Hits 'kiss and Tell' (From the Film Bright Lights Big City'), 'limbo' and 'the Right Stuff'. Album Details

As Perfect as Perfect can get

This was Bryan Ferry's seventh solo effort and just his third album of all original material. Bete Noir comes right after Ferry's masterpiece " Boys and Girls". Released in 1987 and featuring a who's who of great session players and real rock guitar gods ( David Gilmour and Johnny Marr). This album is far more rhythmic than " Boys and Girls" and not as romantic as the previous effort. What it lacks in lyrical content it more than makes up for it in the production area. First of all I like how Ferry and producer Patrick Leonard use rhythmn instruments and guitars to extend Ferry's romantic soundscapes into lush dance tracks. The stand-outs on this album are " Limbo " , " Kiss and Tell ", " Seven Deadly Sins" and " New Town ". Upon listening to this album one can't help but notice how light and flowerey Ferry's voice is. In some cases almost inaudible due to the mix of instruments and production tricks. What I think Ferry tried to do was to improve on " Boys and Girls " and came up a little short on the perfection side. He is known as a perfectionist and a bit of a tyrant in the studio but his use of over 40 musicians overwhelms the production. I understand what he was trying to do. He wanted to make an album that was more lush than " Boys and Girls". In my opinion he should have stripped down some of the production and made it more acoustic and maybe he would have found perfection. Who's to say. Anyways if you love lush soundscapes that you can sway to then this is a must have. Not as good as Roxy Music's " Avalon " or " Boys and Girls " but worth having in your collection. August 22, 2008

The Wrong Stuff.

I suppose everyone is entitled to at least one weak album, but did he have to do a third-rate reiteration of "Boys and Girls"? The one thing I always expect from Mr. Ferry is the unexpected, but I never expected him to go over so much of the same (tired) ground as his prior record. The content of this album gives the impression of being stuck in a rut. Flabby and uninspired. August 21, 2007

Seductive, Beautifully Dark and Haunting

I had first heard of Bryan Ferry as the front man of Roxy Music and I simply adored the song "Avalon." I had really liked Ferry's voice and I loved the songs "Slave to Love" and "Don't Stop the Dance" from the Boys and Girls album but at that point had not purchased his music. When the "Limbo" video first aired on MTV back 1987, I simply fell in love with his voice and style and the song itself. Shortly after, the video for "Kiss and Tell" was released and I loved that song even more than "Limbo." Even then I still had not purchased any of his music or Roxy Music for that matter.

Those songs lingered with me for years until I finally bought the Bete Noire CD in 2000.

This album is a masterpiece. All the songs are rich yet beautifully dark and haunting. This album's production utilizes some of the best producers, musicians and session singers of the era. The guitar riffs and bass lines on this album are fantastic. I don't think there is any song on this album that I don't like.

The sound is timeless and Ferry's voice, along with the backing vocalists is very soulful. When I'm in a mood to lay back in relax, I put on this CD. It's perfect for listening to when you are inside on a rainy day having, your favorite glass of wine.

If you have never heard this album or any of Bryan Ferry's songs, you will not be disappointed. Bete Noire is top-notch and worth buying.



January 18, 2007

Ferry good.

Bryan Ferry might be an aquired taste, but there's no doubt he's made some classic tunes, especially with Roxy Music. Of his solo work I've come to like this the best. "Boys And Girls" is also excellent, and has a few hits of it's own. I find this album as a whole to be very good, but I'll admit it's "Limbo" and "Kiss And Tell" that make it so damn great. Few songs are as catchy and emotionally pleasing, to me anyway. Come to think of it, I'm shocked he hasn't had a proper solo collection out yet. Still, this is one of the first albums to get of his, if not the first. There's a reason I have it on CD, cassette, and vinyl. August 21, 2006

HIs Best!

The epitome of the genre and his crowning achievement. Every song is a winner. May 28, 2006

More reviews at Amazon.com ...