This is the latest EP from the Anglo/French partnership of Tim Hunter (guitars, synthesizer, keyboards, sequencing, drums, lead vocals (4)) and Thierry Sportouche (lead vocals (1-3), flute (3)). On this four-track EP they have also been joined by Jasmine Isa Butterworth (backing vocals) and Phil Jackson (keyboards). I am a little confused with this release in a few ways, as it is named after the song that appears third, and the lead off number is a cover of “Avalon”. The issue with taking on a song that is as well-known as this, is that it is bound to be compared with the original. Now, I believe that Roxy Music released far better material than this during their existence, but this is the song that was played to death on the radio back in the Eighties so I, and many others, are incredibly familiar with it. While musically it isn’t a bad take, Thierry’s vocals don’t work with this. The trace of accent, along with production that is too dry, means that one must wonder why it was undertaken. Ferry’s vocals were given a great deal of reverb and this should have also been the case here.
The second song, “Ode a Emile” also doesn’t work as well as it could for some reason, as it jars, but the third song (which is the title track of the EP) is quite the opposite with some strong guitar and delicate flute and the vocals definitely stronger, and a strong melody. “Ys – The Lost City of Brittany” is the longest song of the four, and in some ways, is the most reminiscent of the album, but also isn’t as structured and well-arranged as I would expect. While Silver Hunter should be commended for releasing physical product, and none of the songs on this EP are currently available elsewhere, I would have preferred it if they either hadn’t covered “Avalon” or had different production, and they should have actually led with the title song as that is the strongest of the four.
