It was earlier this summer that the Ferryshpere was abuzz with the news of a DLX RM box of The Maestro’s 1994 opus, “Mamouna.” It was to be a 3xCD set with disc one being the original album. Disc two was the unreleased “Horoscope” project that eventually turned into “Mamouna” after Ferry overcame his creative blockage. And the third disc was of related “sketchbook” materials showing the development of the album.
There were HMV links to pre-order that were a case of someone jumping the gun on the announcement; a very common occurrence in the current environment. But as of last Wednesday, the official word came down from the Bryan Ferry mailing list. “Mamouna Deluxe” will be ready to hear on November 11th in both major physical formats. Silver and licorice.
The CD box has the third disc of “Sketches” as an exclusive to that format. As we can see the Ferry art directed package comes in a box with an extract from the showgirl sessions on its cover. The “Mamouna” cover keeps the painting of the horse. I’m really loving the “Horoscope” cover with Ferry in high contrast chiaroscuro lighting with Saturn as the baleful eye in the umbra of his only face. The final “Sketches” disc shows an outtake from Ferry’s Moroccan photo sessions that accompanied the original launch of the album. The CD set has my name on it, but there’s another choice.
Bryan Ferry: Mamouna/Horoscope – UK – 2xLP [2023]
Side 1 – Mamouna
1. Don’t Want To Know
2. N.Y.C.
3. Your Painted Smile
4. Mamouna
5. The Only Face
Side 2 – Mamouna
1. The 39 Steps
2. Which Way To Turn
3. Wildcat Days
4. Gemini Moon
5. Chain Reaction
Side 3 – Horoscope (Previously Unreleased)
1. Where Do We Go From Here
2. The Only Face
3. Desdemona
4. S&M
5. Loop De Li
Side 4 – Horoscope (Previously Unreleased)
1. Gemini Moon
2. Raga
3. Mother Of Pearl
It’s pleasing to see that the releases are conventional black vinyl 180g half-speed mastered releases by Miles Showell. None of that garish colored vinyl this time. And the gatefold sleeve was a call-back to how we used to roll with Ferry/Roxy releases back in the day. We are assuming that the familiar sounding songs from “Horoscope” that later figured in “Mamouna” were in their early incarnations here. The Ferry webstore also has a complementary selection of t-shirts and other sundry designs for purchase.
Pricing is attractive at $39.00 for the 2xLP and $27.00 for the CD box. The Ferry webstore shows snipes listing these as “limited editions” with no final word on the press runs, but it’s best to take them at their word. In these times, every physical release is a “limited edition.” Mr. D.J. hit that button!
3X CD “MAMOUNA”/”HOROSCOPE”/”SKETCHES” BOX
2X LP “MAMOUNA”/”HOROSCOPE”
-30-
![Want List: Visage DLX RM […finally!]](https://i0.wp.com/postpunkmonk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/visage-dlxrmuscda.jpeg?resize=200%2C200&ssl=1)
Post-Punk Monk 
I will be buying this set, just need to check the best price in the UK. It would be nice to have some new material to look forward to though.
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Roy Solomon – I know my friend Echorich has been focused on the role of “Horoscope” in the mature Ferry oeuvre for ages now. Much of that material trickled out in the subsequent albums an different forms. I am interested in finally getting it in its abandoned form as an orphaned album of legendary proportions.
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I just pre-ordered it from Amazon US at $28 if that helps you find a copy.
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Tim – I have refrained from buying from that company for years now. Not a fan. I’ll figure something out eventually. Still in miser/saving mode for Euro/UK trip in (gulp!) six months!
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Where are you intending to visit when you come to the UK ? As a resident, I can recommend Yorkshire
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Roy Solomon – The target is Amsterdam for the first week. Then London-To- Harlech, Wales, primarily with a bit of London at the back end.
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As a former (briefly) resident, I also recommend Yorkshire … but that accent can be difficult for tourists …
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chasinvictoria – Oh, yes. Wasn’t that the time period where your dad used to wake you up in the morning at ten o’clock at night, half an hour before he put you to bed, feed you a lump of cold poison, then made you work work twenty-nine hours a day down the mill, paying the mill owner for permission to come to work, and when you got home… your dad would kill you and dance about on your grave singing “Hallelujah.” Good times!
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At last! I ordered mine a day or two ago. My favorite Ferry solo album!
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Big Mark – Is there a single factor it is down to? I thought Robin Trower was a good fit for lead guitar and enjoyed him on the tour, which I saw three dates for. Decades of pent up Ferry fandom got sated on that tour!
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I’ve enjoyed most of the work Bryan Ferry has put out over the decades, but Mamouna was one of those cases of the right album at exactly the right time for me. I played it endlessly, it works beautifully as a whole, and I just adore its glorious textures. I was always a big fan of Robin Trower, and that’s certainly part of it. His only subsequent album to come close to this standard for me has been Olympia.
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Garish?
I admit many of the colored vinyl offerings get to be a bit silly, but garish?
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Mamouna never quite hit me the way Boys & Girls and Bete Noir did. That said, when Your Painted Smile cropped up in my Release Radar on Spotify last week it sounded great! So maybe Mamouna’s time has come for me…
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Jeremy Shatan – It’s never too late! For me, the weak link was “Beté Noir.” I always felt that the use of Patrick Leonard meant that it was Ferry’s “Madonna Record.” It did share some of that production style which gave me pause. Things like “Limbo” were astounding, but other tracks sat too close to “Open Your Heart” for my tastes. I liked it more with time. “Mamouna” was a lot more instant for me. The title track could have been twice as long, and “Chain Reaction” was an incredible high for the album to go out on. I also felt that Robin Trower to co-produce and be lead guitar for the “Taxi/Mamouna” phase was a really strong move. I was impressed that Trower would take such a role but I felt it worked for all concerned.
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Chain Reaction IS a great song! And will revisit the whole album. Part of my own reaction might have had something to do with timing as it was a long wait between albums.
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AnEarful – That was a long wait. Getting “Taxi” and “Mamouna” in two years felt life a feast following the famine.
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