*********************************** AM/FM ***********************************  Bryan Ferry: "Taxi" 1993 Playing time: 40:00 Reviewed by Bjorn A. Lynne AM/FM Rating (0-10): 7 It's been a long time since we heard anything from the former singer and front figure in Roxy Music; Bryan Ferry. His two latest solo albums, "Boys & Girls" and "Bete Noire" both sold very well, scored several hits and were generally well acclaimed in the music industry and the music press. But everything's been quiet around our hero for a few years; until just now, when he suddenly appeared with the album "Taxi". Believe it or not, but I did in fact buy this CD directly off Bryan Ferry himself. My CD cover says "To Mona and Bjorn - Love from Bryan Ferry". (I bought the CD in a record store in Oslo while in Bryan was there himself (no kidding!) and he wrote the little message on their for me. (In case you were wondering; yes he does look exactly like on TeeVee!) :-) There is a special kind of feeling in Bryan Ferry's music. The productions are soothing, dark and mysterious, but still with that catchy and funky feel. It all sounds "exotic" in a way, yet it's still what I would call "pop music" - not "world music" or "ethnic music" or anything; even though ethnic instruments are often used to add atmosphere. It's kind of hard to explain, but even though there's a lot going on in his songs, because of the way they're produced and because of the choice of instruments, it all sounds very calm and smooth. Personally, I like this style a lot, and judging from the success Bryan Ferry has had, it seems I'm not the only one. Unlike the two earlier albums I mentioned above, where most of the music was composed by Ferry himself, this new album contains only cover versions of various older songs; personal favourites of Ferry himself, which he has rearranged and reproduced, and sort of made them fit the well known "Bryan Ferry Sound". The result is, with a few exceptions, quite enjoyable. I must admit that I didn't know many of the songs from earlier. I don't think they were really big hits or anything, because chances are I would have heard them before then. In fact, the only songs from the CD that I've ever heard before is Ferry's version "Amazing Grace" (yes, it's that old classic bag-pipe tune!). I had a bad feeling about hearing this old folk song in a "disco" version, and to be honest, I don't think this particular track worked out too well. Most of the other songs though, like "Answer Me" (which is my favourite from the CD), "I Put A Spell On You" and a few others, worked out really well, and Ferry's personal style came through to much luck. But I still can't help thinking that I would rather have a CD with Bryan's own compositions. I liked the two previous albums better, simply because I found the compositions better. I heard a rumour on the radio, saying that Bryan Ferry had actually composed and recorded a whole album with his own material, all new stuff, but just before they started pressing the CDs, Ferry and his record company decided to hold back and perhaps even cancel the whole album, because it "wasn't commercial enough"! Things like this makes me just want to cry.. I'm DEAD sure that this planned album with Ferry's own music, was MUCH better than "Taxi". But it seems that the MTV-generation is in charge of the music industry now, and if someone makes good music that won't immediately satisfy the easy needs of the 3-minute music video, the whole thing isn't even worth releasing. It makes me mad! Is the whole music industry turning into one great big giant Eurovision Song Contest??! In that case; goodbye cruel world! To my taste, the CD is a bit on the short side too! We're used to being treated to about an hour music on a CD these days, so less than 40 minutes seems a bit short. All in all, if you've enjoyed the previous Bryan Ferry albums, especially "Boys & Girls" and "Bete Noire", chances are you will also like this album, but perhaps not as much as you liked the two I just mentioned. I prefer it when Ferry uses his own material, which is created with the "Bryan Ferry" sound meant for it all the way from the start. I DEEPLY hope that Ferry will dig back up that album he's got tucked away, with his own "not so commercial" material. PLEASE!!  Bryan Ferry: "Taxi" - AM/FM Rating 7.  *********************************** AM/FM ***********************************