Album Review: Trevor Horn Echoes- Ancient And Modern

In the eighties and early nineties, Trevor Horn co-wrote and produced a diverse range of acts, from Dollar to Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Grace Jones, besides being a member of The Buggles, who had a Number One hit with Video Killed The Radio Star, and then going on to be a member of the Prog Rock group Yes, albeit for a short time.

In this new collection, Horn has re-visited some of the songs that he first recorded with other artists, besides some other cover versions.

Rick Astley provides a likeable version of the Yes classic, Owner of a Lonely Heart; Grace Jones's Slave to the Rhythm always sounded to be the superlative version with a moody and atmospheric twist, the new version here featuring Lady Blackbird never surpasses this.

Iggy Pop treats Depeche Mode's Personal Jesus with respect on a stripped-down version, while the new version of Frankie Goes To Hollywood's Relax performed by Toyah and Robert Fripp lacks the punch and authority of the Frankie version; perhaps it would have been better to let the original version stand.

Horn provides a mournful vocal to Roxy Music's Avalon; his voice suits the sweeping and moving song. It appears as a laid-back farewell to the album, though the final thought is that maybe Horn could have recorded some new songs to add to his catalogue of hits rather than trying to re-invent the wheel.