Cross - Gaze (1996)

Gaze is a music studio album recording by CROSS (Crossover Prog/Progressive Rock) released in 1996 on cd, lp / vinyl and/or cassette.

Read More

Cross - Dream Reality (1997)

This CD from the Swedish band Cross is a compilation with re-mastered songs from their first three CD's and additional remixed and new versions. It contains 11 tracs, recorded between 1987 and 1993. Cross is a musical project by multi-instrumentalist Cross (lead vocals, guitars, synthesizers, sampled drums and percussion), in general it sounds dynamic with strong beats, flowing and fiery guitarwork (a bit similar to David Gilmour) and often bombastic keyboards. The longer tracks feature a nice variety, from up-tempo rock to mellow with soaring keyboards. The vocals have a slight accent and but sound decent. The composition "The fanfare song" seems to me a tribute to the mid-Emerson delivering a fat and bombastic synthesizer sound. A nice album.

Read More

Cross - Visionary Fools (1998)

Again a Swedish band that looks like it is making it in progland. But if you think Cross is a brand-new band, well think again. With Visionary Fools, Cross delivers their eighth product! In '87 they already released the maxi single "Charade On A Razorblade" followed the next year by the album "Uncovered Heart." In 1990 they released the single "My Favourite Baby" (very prog sounding don't you think?) and that very same year the second album 2nd Movement was born.

Three years later it was time for Changing Poison Into Medicine. In 1995 they made the change from vinyl to CD with the single "Paradox." In 1996 the Cyclops label released Haze followed the year after by Dream Reality which contained material from the band's first three vinyl albums reworked and remastered for CD.

Whilst in the past, influences from Twelfth Night and Pink Floyd have been noticed, Cross has grown, and today we find a decent amount of Yes and Genesis elements in their music. Especially in "White Lies, Dark Truth" the keyboards sound enormously like Tony Banks during his Wind and Wuthering period with Genesis. Then again "Deep" sounds a bit like "Back In New York City" from the double album The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, whilst the repetitive pattern of "In A Question Mark" contains a fair share of Yes. While guitarist/singer/leader Hansi Cross may have gained some extra kilos, the music on this Visionary Fools can certainly be called the very best the band has ever produced. Truly a wonderful and surprising album!

Read More

Cross - Secrets (2000)

.I was surprised at how heavy this album was,reminding me a little of ARENA.The mellotron is a nice touch,as it appears on all but the two instrumentals."Bleeding In Silence" is a great way to start the record,lots of time changes,and as i mentioned earlier quite heavy with some good riffs and guitar melodies.There is some cool drum and cello interplay(bet you don't hear that often) and a lighter keyboard solo."Little One" is a short guitar instrumental."The Core" is one of my favourites,with wonderful guitar melodies and also a drum,piano melody.The extended guitar solo is great. "Awakening" is another instrumental with guitar and keyboards leading the way."Changed Reality" opens with cello,this song has a GENESIS feel to it, i think it's the sound of the keyboards.Another extended guitar solo is a real treat."Pall Of Illusion" is another favourite of mine.I call this the magic song because for some unknown reason it takes me back to one of the special times in my life,over 20 years ago,obviously way before this record came out.There is a keyboard melody throughout this very intoxicating song."Welcome To Utopia" features tempo changes galore,it opens with a mellotron,synth combination,then the drums come in,followed by two minutes of gently soaring guitar.I haven't mentioned the vocals yet,but they work well with this album although they're average at best.This song also features a too short wave of beautiful mellotron(it's always too short).The highlight of the whole record for me is the last 3 minutes or so of this song where Mr.Cross gives us an emotional,uplifting guitar solo that is hard to put into words.

Read More

Cross - Playgrounds (2004)

Swedish 'CROSS', a symphonic project from Hansi Cross, has produced through the years a respectable discography. But unlike many other bands, CROSS has succeeded to improve the quality throughout each release, and this seems to be the case again with 'Playgrounds'. Influences from the past like GENESIS, YES, KING CRIMSON, etc are now reunited into a very own sound, neo-progressive symphonic rock as this seems to become typical for Scandinavian bands. On this album CROSS has found the perfect balance between the vocal and instrumental pieces. Some will have difficulties with that raw, sometimes complaining voice of Hansi, but after a few listenings you will find out that his voice fits perfectly the instrumental parts.

'Let the play begin' has a certain GENESIS-feeling, especially because of the keyboards, but CROSS tends to give the song a 'heavier' turn, often followed by softer, melodic passages. 'Déjà Vu' is a full instrumental track, where heavy guitar riffs (even a bit progmetal) are alternated with dreamy guitar solos and mellotron. 'A new beginning' could easily have been a new number of SPEKTRUM, with those typical keyboard sounds with an intriguing voice, supported by excellent CAMEL-like guitar parts. A bit surprising is the use of saxophone, which makes the end a bit jazzy. But no mistake, this is truly a symphonic, progressive rock-cd. For instance in the second instrumental 'The battle of Thalyma', CROSS seems to have a patent on those beautiful melody lines. And although Hansi is an excellent musician, he prefers arrangement and compositions above technique, that's why the rhythm section is rather inconspicuous, but solid.

Read More

Cross - The Thrill Of Nothingness (2009)

Back in 2005, I had the pleasure of reviewing a album entitled Playgrounds by Swedish progressive rock band, Cross. Fast forward to 2009 when the band released a album entitled The Thrill Of Nothingness which from memory, was supposed to be released in 2007 but band leader, Hansi Cross had some health issues with his hearing. This release was made available in two editions, a standard 1 cd and a 2 deluxe cd with some extra tracks.

I was sent the standard 1 cd edition, because as Hansi told me that1cd edition contained the music he wanted reviewed. Just as with Playgrounds, the music was presented in a melodic symphonic progressive rock or as some have called it, neo-prog. I think you'd be wasting listening time trying to label a band's style, rather than just simply enjoying the music. That's what I did each time I listened to the album The Thrill Of Nothingness.

Read More

Cross - Paradox (1995)

Sweet sounding crossover progressive rock band from Sweden. Compares to such bands as It Bites, Pink Floyd, Twelfth Night, Genesis, Rush, Echolyn, Anekdoten, King Crimson, Landberk and Galleon! This interesting offering from the band is from 1995 and features just one track that is nearly 19 minutes in length It's probably the rarest offering the band ever released, pressed in extremely limited quantities on their own label, Lyxvax.If you like this band, then be sure to see all of the Cross albums I have for sale right now on eBay!...almost every CD from their fine back catalog is up for grabs!

mp3/320

Read More

Cross - Second Movement (1990)

This second I work of the Swedish band CROSS entitled "Second Movement", it pleased me even certain point, because, although it cannot consider a "masterpiece." the disk pleased in the sense that in spite to be classified in the category Nep-Prog, and to really have plenty elements of the style, it presents some variations, at least interesting, in relation to other styles of progressive as for instance the keyboards presence (eventually in duets with the guitar) playing in a timbre that simulates a brass orchestra, as in the case of Track 1 "Emergency" and still of Track 7 "Fanfarre Song" that approximates them of Symphonic-|Prog. Besides those two tracks it would like to highlight the Track 8 "Impregnable eyes" that presents a brilliant opening in the best style of Heavy-Prog or Prog-metal , however , there is no continuity in the development of the theme, although the track is very good. However, the disk left me with the clear impression that they could have conceived a more elaborated work in the sense of taking advantage of this easiness in "flirting" with other styles and in that way to please more fans of other styles of progressive music

mp3/320

Read More

Cross - III: Changing Poison Into Medecine (1993)

It's a mixture of longer epic songs as well as shorter pop songs. Once again Jock "Tai" Millgårdh sang nearly half of the material. Among many contributing musicians former Von Lyx bassplayer Johan Nordenfelt is heard. Released December 1993.

mp3/320

Read More

Cross - Uncovered Heart (1988)

CROSS was created in 1987, ostensibly as a solo vehicle for ex-VON LYX and VOODOO guitarist Hasse Cross. The other founder members of the band, whose debut album 'Uncovered Heart' arrived in March 1988, included erstwhile VON LYX and TALK OF THE TOWN drummer Benny Hadders and bassist Olson. The CD version of the album, released in December 1988, not only saw the inclusion of an extra track, 'Timewawes', but was boosted by additional overdubs and a full remix throughout.

Successive recordings, '2nd Movement' in 1990, saw the inclusion of vocalist Tai (real name Jock Millgård), keyboard player Christian Andre, Ulf Adåker on trumpet and Idde Schultz on backing vocals, both Tai and Andre then moving on to form fellow Swedish act RUSSELL.

'III-Changing Poison Into Medicine', also seeing Tai donating vocals and with ex-VON LYX man Johan Nordenfelt on bass, was issued in December 1993. Ambitiously CROSS' April 1995 single 'Paradox' comprised one single, eighteen minute track.

The fourth album, 'Gaze' issued in March 1996 by Lyxvax being later re-issued by the British Cyclops label with a different track listing, saw the band backing Hasse Cross as featuring Christensen on bass, Floke on keyboards and drummers Tomas Hjort and Stenmark. Cyclops then revisited the first trilogu of albums to compile a re-mastered retrospective release entitled 'Dream Reality', arriving in late July 1997.

The 1998 CROSS album 'Visionary Fools' was recorded by a line-up comprising Hansi Cross, handling lead vocals, guitars, keyboards and mandolin, bassist Lollo Andersson, keyboard player Olle Siljeholm and drummer Robert Iversen. The following year, Tai, Cross and Andersson featured with musicians from GRAND STAND on the Angular Records PINK FLOYD tribute album 'Signs Of Life - A Tribute To Pink Floyd' with their version of 'Shine On'.

'Secrets', emerging in 2000, had Cross working once again with Lollo Andersson and Tomas Hjorth. Lars Borgström aided on cello. CROSS returned in 2005 with the 'Playground' opus. Besides band regulars Andersson and Hjorth the record also saw studio contributions from Olov Andersson of SPEKTRUM and GRAND STAND on keyboards plus the SPEKTRUM duo of Lizette von Panajott and Göran Johnsson on backing vocals, Linus Kåse on soprano saxophone and Göran Fors of GALEON and SPEKTRUM on Taurus pedals and harmony vocals.

mp3/320
Incl. Covers

Read More