SOUTHERN CROSS-SOUTHERN CROSS-

Going downunder to continue the story of Hard/psych/proto/Heavy rock band Buffalo we have come to the Southern Cross outfit who released their selftitled album in 1977. Ex Buffalo members Alex Milano on vocals and John Baxter, providing the powerful guitar, brought along Michel Brouet on bass and backing vocals with drummer Jeff Beacham and started out the short but intensive career of Southern Cross .

They were signed to independent label Living Sound/Laser and the producing of this album is fair enough but a bit muffled and got some strange downmixing to the easier songs which is anoying. The material climbs from high to low, with no particularly standout tune nor any really bad one either. Vocals are gritty were it´s suppose to and the guitar works great. The overall impression is yet plain avarage though… 🙂

By good Company as in Finch, The Angels, Kevin Borich Express and Rose Tattoo this outfit got really popular in the Sydney Music scene but poor sales and no chart breakers made the band dissolved in 1978.

Whatabout the drummer, Jeff Beacham? To bad but there are backalley crackusers who play better than this piece of what?? I don´t get this fellow. Hard striking with no Dynamics makes this sound like they brought in a stand in drummer from a retirement home. No drive and the hit ratio is like a slinky toy a true sad impression and effort.

This is strange album but with an excitement about it. As nothing really stands out you can´t dismiss it completly and that´s a good sign. If you´re into past mid 70´s hard/Heavy/ rock this is Worth a deeper dive into. Ridicoulus prices would suggest you to invest in a CD copy Before spending your hard earned pay on overpriced vinyl copies.

VINYLRATING/GRADE

4-CHEESY-AVARAGE-