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! Reviewed by : John 'Bobo' Bollenberg |
