Aside from Manzanera's impressive musical career, from the boundary-defying art rock of Roxy Music, the progressive rock of Quiet Sun and 801 and his work with the likes of John Wetton and David Gilmour and Pink Floyd, Revolución to Roxy also explores Manzanera's family history, dating back to the expulsion of the Sephardic Jews from Spain in 1492, via the 1959 revolution in Cuba and the discovery of a Neapolitan Opera musician grandfather.
“I’ve written this memoir for my English and Colombian family, dear friends and music fans, who’ve followed my musical twists and turns for over half a century," Manzanera explains. "It’s a memoir that spans my 50’s childhood in Cuba, Hawaii and Venezuela, when everything seemed in the brightest technicolor, to monochrome but very cool 60’s London and the start of a music career that continues to enrich my life.
Roxy Music musicians Phil Mazanera and Andy Mackay have once again joined forces for an new instrumental album, AM PM, which was released through BFD/The Orchard on October.
The new album is described as a "saxophone and guitar-heavy, ambient set", and Manzera has produced the new video which was compiled and directed by using footage and photos shot by his son, Charlie Targett-Adams, an accomplished film, documentary and music video director, Loudersound reports.
“During the covid lockdowns I was working on songs with Tim Finn (Split Enz, Crowded House) but I also had an urge to do some spontaneous instrumental music," explains Manzanera. "I rang Andy Mackay and asked if he would be interested in working on an album together, he was, and thus the AM PM album was started. After the discipline of working on song structures, it was very liberating to just try and find solutions to unstructured bits of music.
Phil Manzanera Talks Roxy Music and His Neighbor David Gilmour
The ex Roxy Music, played with everyone from Brian Eno to David Gilmour to Bob Dylan and was sampled by Jay Z and Kanye West.When I first joined Roxy Music, I had a Gibson 335—a beautiful thing. They took one look at it and said, “Oooh. No, no, no. You’ve got to have a white Strat.” So I got a white Strat and I used that and the 335 on the first album. But then, after being with them for a few months, the 335 got stolen.
Roxy Music have lately revisited their 1972 self-titled debut album in early 2018 with a 45th anniversary reissue packed with unreleased demos, outtakes, radio sessions and more.
The versions on the reissues, released via Virgin/UMe, were mastered in half-speed at Abbey Road Studios by the engineer Miles Showell.
Roxy Music 50th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition
DISC ONE: THE ALBUM
1. "Re-Make/Re-Model"
2. "Ladytron"
3. "If There Is Something"
4. "Virginia Plain"
5. "2 HB"
6. "The BOB (Medley)"
7. "Chance Meeting"
8. "Would You Believe?"
9. "Sea Breezes"
10. "Bitters End"
DEMOS & OUTTAKES
EARLY DEMOS April/May 71
"Ladytron"
"2 HB"
"Chance Meeting"
"The BOB (Medley)"
ALBUM OUTTAKES
"Instrumental"
"Re-Make/Re-Model"
"Ladytron"
"If There Is Something"
"2 HB"
"The BOB (Medley)"
"Chance Meeting"
"Sea Breezes"
"Bitters End"
"Virginia Plain"
