Release date: 22.07.2018
Label: Purple Pyramid
Production: Jürgen Engler
Album length: 53:30
Rating: 9/10
English multi-instrumentalist David Cross, best known as a former member of prog rock titans King Crimson, was busier in 2018 than ever before in his solo career, recording no fewer than two studio albums. »Another Day« was made together with former Van der Graaf Generator saxophonist/flutist David Jackson. »Crossing the Tracks«, on the other hand, is a complete, somewhat unplanned solo effort where David’s violin mastery gets plenty of room to shine. It was also a turning point in his career, since for the first time he wasn’t the author and arranger of everything on the album. Instead, he played violin and electric violin and handled keyboard arrangements on the tracks at the request of producer Jurgen Engler and the people at Cleopatra Records. Despite Cross’s initial reservations, the project ended up being surprisingly successful.
Unlike the outstanding »Sign of the Crow« from 2016, which was recorded with Cross’s band The David Cross Band and sounded like a distinctly modern-flavored cross between progressive rock and progressive metal with some Porcupine Tree and Opeth influences, »Crossing the Tracks« is a much more ‘traditionalist’, even slightly commercial-leaning affair, with plenty of jazz rock fusion, folk and world music influences. Most of the arrangements are laid-back, and the superb vocal harmonies blend wonderfully with David’s always eclectic violin arrangements, making this a pretty accessible album that will surely win him a few new fans.
»Crossing the Tracks« is packed with Celtic melodies and sprawling violin arrangements, which you can hear right from the opening track »White Bird«, sung in an incredibly heartfelt way by Sonja Karaushofer. »Crossing the Tracks« is half instrumental, while six of the compositions feature six different female singers, each adding a completely different dimension to their songs with their own distinct voice. »For What It It’s Worth«, with Anne-Marie Hurst on vocals, comes across as a rather strange but still interesting hybrid of prog, jazz rock and pop, without a hint of sappiness.
Among the more typical showcases of Cross’s trademark violin technique are the symphonic instrumentals »Prince of Darkness« and »Into the Oblique«, which have a somewhat gloomier atmosphere and a more obscure sound from David’s electric violin, so certain associations with his King Crimson past come up all on their own. »The Light Inside Me«, soaked in all sorts of world music elements and featuring Kimberly Freeman as guest vocalist, is strongly reminiscent of some of the work of Welsh prog band Karnataka, while the brilliantly arranged instrumental »Shifting Sands« is clear proof of why Cross still works so often with current and former King Crimson members.
»Crossing the Tracks« was a bold undertaking and a totally atypical album for Cross’s solo career so far. After some possible initial hesitation over a few unexpected moves, it will probably win over most of his followers. The experiment with female singers turned out surprisingly well, and the mix of instrumental and vocal compositions is balanced just right, so »Crossing the Tracks« doesn’t come off as overly commercial, which longtime Cross fans will appreciate. At the same time, it isn’t overly complex either, thanks to the ‘friendly’ enough voices of most of the singers, which may widen the circle of fans of Cross’s often overlooked solo career.
Review by: Peter Podbrežnik
Track list:
1. White Bird (4:40)
2. Kalahari Fantasy (5:28)
3. For What It’s Worth (3:04)
4. Prince Of Darkness (4:09)
5. Love Me (5:46)
6. Into The Oblique (4:33)
7. The Light Inside Me (4:00)
8. Shifting Sands (3:56)
9. Hero Of Kingdom (4:00)
10. Hallelujah (5:17)
11. The Key (4:20)
12. Shadows Do Know (4:17)
Musicians:
David Cross – violin
Sonja Kraushofer – vocals (1)
Anne-Marie Hurst – vocals (3)
Ofra Haza – vocals (5,11)
Kimberly Freeman – vocals (7)
Marion Küchenmeister – vocals (9)
Eva O – vocals (12)
