In the modern world, there is a shadow of pressure cascaded upon artistic expression to be commercially accessible. Often used as a medium to sell a product or idea, no different from a marketing advertisement on television, radio, and the internet, this can be stifling in nature.
This is the sad truth of life in present-day society. Fortunately, there are some who yearn to take chances with what they are doing in terms of art. Throwing caution at the wind and simply doing something without the pretense of selling something, in 2025, you have the surprising collaboration between iconic Songwriter Bryan Ferry and Author/Artist Amelia Barratt. Coming from completely different places, it is an interesting and unusual partnership where they come together for the collaborative album entitled Loose Talk.
Unlike anything Ferry has ever done, Loose Talk finds him mainly stepping behind the curtain. Acting as a composer and performing on keyboards and piano, Barratt provides vocalization and spoken word dialogue in front of him. Released on March 28, 2025, the album, broken into eleven tracks, features very colorful yet subtle instrumentation that lends itself to cinematic qualities in every way possible. However, dissecting Loose Talk as it unfolds in just under forty minutes would be redundant and unnecessary. With that said, let us focus on more intriguing aspects, such as the story behind the album.
Providing some insight, the world recognizes Bryan Ferry as the lead songwriter of the iconic band Roxy Music, as well as his solo career, where he has always stood out with an elegant and inviting singing voice. Easily recalled for hits like Roxy Music’s 1975 classic “Love Is The Drug” and 1982’s “Avalon,” let us not forget classic solo songs such as 1985’s “Slave to Love” as well as “Don’t Stop the Dance.” Truly iconic in terms of his influence on an entire decade of Pop Rock music, Ferry continues to be active in recent times with a Roxy Music reunion that took place in 2021, before his release of a covers EP called Love Letters in 2022.
In some of Ferry’s recent activities, as luck would have it, he also crossed paths with Amelia Barratt. Explaining this further, Ferry had a chance to meet Barratt at an exhibition opening, and her writings immediately compelled him. Drawn to how she morphed words into a performance with her painting, they soon learned they both shared an art school background. Finding common ground, new inspiration was born, leading to an entirely new endeavor together.
Quite unique, within Amelia Barratt, you have an accomplished painter, writer, and performer. Perhaps not as well-known in the mainstream as Ferry, the unification of her words and Ferry’s music in Loose Talk is unlike anything for many reasons. To start with, by and large, Ferry does not appear vocally on the record, and as stated, he stays in the background as Barratt takes the spotlight. Done so intentionally to allow Barratt a chance to shine, what she offers are rhythmic verses of spoken word that present astounding visual imagery where a dramatic play unfolds inside your mind.
Furthermore, thanks to the music playing off the words in a magical fashion, Barratt’s poetry provokes various emotions. You cannot help but feel like a voyeurist peeking in on a character moving through life as they express their deepest feelings on everything from personal thoughts to everyday events. Turning the mundane into something beautiful, there is something captivating about Barratt’s poetic style that you simply cannot ignore, even if you try.
Overall, Loose Talk is not something you would expect, which is why it is exciting. It is also commendable to see Ferry stepping into a whole different stratosphere with this project. Much like Roxy Music Guitarist Phil Manzanera has dived into freeform instrumental music with Andy Mackay (also of Roxy Music), Ferry’s work with Amelia Barratt is something well worth checking out. That is why Cryptic Rock encourages an open mind when approaching Loose Talk, giving the album 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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