Dylanesque

Released in 2007, Dylanesque is Bryan Ferry's twelfth solo studio album and his second full-length collection dedicated entirely to covers of a single artist (following his 1973 debut, These Foolish Things, which was more eclectic). Recorded quickly with his touring band to capture a 'live' feel, the album peaked at number 5 on the UK Albums Chart. While Ferry had famously covered Dylan before - most notably with his 1973 hit version of 'A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall' - this project sees him adopting a more mature, restrained approach. The instrumentation heavily features harmonica, piano, and Hammond organ, nodding to Dylan's mid-60s 'thin wild mercury sound' but refining it with Ferry's art-rock sensibilities. Critics noted that while Ferry doesn't attempt to replicate Dylan's vocal snarl, his 'elegant croon' provides a fascinating counterpoint to the source material's inherent roughness. The album stands as a testament to Ferry's ability to curate and recontextualize the Great American Songbook through a European, avant-pop perspective.