MEMOS FROM PURGATORY

An important figure of the early-70's British prog scene, violinist David Cross was born in 1949 in Turnchapel near Plymouth and became widely known as a member of King Crimson, with whom he spent three intense years.From mid-70's and on Cross participated in several albums as a guest musician, before becoming a member of the one-shot project Low Flying Aircraft and also of Radius in late-80's.Additionally he formed his own band along with keyboardist Sheila Maloney from Radius, drummer Dan Maurer from Low Flying Aircraft, bassist Simon Murrell and sax player Pete McPhail.Cross debuted in 1989 with ''Memos From Purgatory'', released both in CD and vinyl by Red Hot Records.

The album is dominated by Cross'es lovely playing and his Classical tendencies throughout, however it is also tortured by the cheap-sounding keyboards of the 80's and the plastic drumming, not unleashing its true power.Influences come from Progressive Rock, Experimental Rock, Fusion and even New Age and the album has also a strong KING CRIMSON vibe of the 80's with many experimental moments next to Cross'es both smooth and attacking deliveries, featuring plenty of hard-edged moments with fiery saxes, powerful drumming and hypnotic bass work.Maloney's keyboards though become unbearable in the process, sounding too New-Agey and fake compared to the physical sound of the violins, bass and sax.The instrumental styles offered are varied, from OLDFIELD-ian dreamy soundscapes with emphasis on keyboasrds to mechanical, almost industrial type of sharp violin intervetions, containing some schizophenic grooves, and even some delicate, more Classical-inspired pieces.The mediocre sound of the instruments combined with the mass of different moods presented hurt the album's consistency.

Not the best comeback for such a great musician.Pale and rather unispired work with huge 80's vibes in the recording process, but also hints of Cross'es unique talent throughout.Recommended mainly to die-hard KING CRIMSON fans...2.5 stars.