If Bryan Ferry were dead, you could say that he is haunting GT's "Revolution" (http://cdbaby.com/cd/gtrocks5) CD. GT is actually a gentleman named Graham Hollingsworth, whose suave voice and deep, enigmatic crooning is breathtaking in these days of emo adolescent wailing.
The Ferry comparison is an easy one to make; his voice was so distinct that he could've trademarked it. However, there are other New Romantic icons at play here. The first cut, "Far Away," recalls the icy tones of John Foxx, Ultravox's original singer. Most people remember Midge Ure as the leader of that band, forgetting that Foxx was the one who lead the way although Ure had the biggest hits. The cold electronics and offbeat hooks of "Far Away" could've packed a club full of Visage fans back in the day.
On the title track, the Ghost of Ferry makes his debut, but it's been decades since the Roxy Music singer recorded anything that'd be considered as cutting edge as GT's. This is not your typical pop music. Yes, it is melodic but slightly bent as well. The cover of John Lennon's "Imagine" was a bit of a surprise (although didn't Ferry also remake Lennon once?), and GT provides it with a New Romantic sense of gloom that ironically contrasts the lyrics' wish for a utopian paradise.
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The majestic "Excalibur" and "Sun and Moon," with its soaring harmonies, do the best job of cementing this LP into my memory. If you're a fan of English New Wave, especially the challenging synthesized material of the late '70s and early '80s, GT is your man.
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