Crossfire - Hysterical Rochords (1982)

(Australian 1974 - 1983)
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Crossfire were an Australian jazz-fusion band active from 1974 to 1983, which recorded five studio albums. The primary composers of the group were founding members Jim Kelly (guitars) and Michael Kenny (keyboards, piano). Other members of Crossfire included Ian Bloxsom (percussion, glockenspiel), Greg Lyon and Phil Scorgie (electric bass), Don Reid and Tony Buchanan (saxophones, flute), John Proud, Doug Gallacher, Steve Hopes, and Mark Riley (drums).

Crossfire were a jazz-fusion band formed in Sydney in 1974 with a line-up of Ian Bloxsom on percussion, Tony Buchanan on saxophone, Steve Hopes on drums, Jim Kelly on guitar, Michael Kenny on piano and Greg Lyon on bass guitar. Bloxsom, Kelly and Kenny had been band mates in Southern Contemporary Rock Assembly. The ensemble issued a self-titled debut album late in 1975, with a line-up of Bloxsom; Kelly; Kenny on keyboards and trumpet; Lyon on bass guitar and vocals; John Proud on drums and Don Reid on reeds. Rock Australia Magazine's Felicity Surtees found that the group had "gone past the stage of being just a creative outlet and has become a major part of their lives." Lyon described their style, "what we play is contemporary music. We're influenced by everyone really... It allows everyone to be creative."

Crossfire 1978

Crossfire were the first Australian artists to use direct-to-disc recording for their aptly titled second album, ''Direct to Disc, in late 1978. It was produced and engineered by Alan Thorne and issued by Trafalgar Records/RCA. For the album, the line-up was Bloxsom; Kenny on Wurlitzer piano and flugelhorn; Lyon; and Kelly; joined by Doug Gallacher on drums; and Don Reid on saxophones and flute. Michael Foster of the Canberra Times felt "their music displays many moods — playful and joyous, eerie and somber — always sensitive, reflecting the influences and experiences of each player." He emphasised "the effect gained by the horns, which seem to hang suspended a lot of the time against a backdrop of the instruments which normally carry rhythm, and the percussion group. The rhythm and percussion instruments often, as is the way since bop, step outside their roles as custodians of time and measure, and establish their own rights to individual actions."

Jim Kelly

The group's third album, East of Where (1980), was issued on WEA and was co-produced by Kelly, Kenny and Martin Benge. All the tracks were written by Kelly or Kenny. For this album Bloxsom, Buchanan, Hopes, Kelly and Kenny were joined by Phil Scorgie bass guitar. Foster found there was "more humour in this album than in the previous one. The music is of the same genre, but there is a certain wryness in the approach to its work, by one of Australia's most exciting bands." Although "there are times when it gets a little heavy, but generally the music lifts and soars, and is fun to listen to."

Crossfire were the backing band for the American jazz singer Michael Franks on an Australian tour, which provided a live album, Michael Franks with Crossfire Live (1980). In late 1982 they issued their fourth studio album, Hysterical Rochords, again with Kelly, Kenny and Benge co-producing. The line-up was Bloxsom, Buchanan, Hope, Kelly, Kenny and Scorgie. The Canberra Times' W. L. Hoffman noticed that "there are six tunes, all of them interesting and, again, all of them written by [Kelly or Kenny]." Hoffman praised the title track, "it is a neatly structured, very bluesy piece, with Ton Buchanan's saxophone threading through the tune, bringing it all together" while "the sounds continue on the second side, smooth, singing music as is characteristic of Crossfire."

Crossfire 1982

During 1982 Crossfire undertook an international tour through India, Holland, England and the United States. The group's performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival on 16 July 1982 was recorded. It was released as their second live album, Live at Montreux (July 1983). The ensemble were Bloxsom on percussion and mallets, Buchanan on saxophones and shakers, Kelly, Kenny, Lyon and Mark Riley on drums. Eric Myers declared, in the July-August edition of Jazz magazine, that the gig showed the group "playing original music that is an outgrowth of our own culture, can take their place on the international stage with the best of them ... a great moment for Crossfire and a high point for Australian music." The group disbanded later that year. Their performance at the Basement in Sydney was broadcast on ABC radio's The Burrows Collection for the episode, "Ten Years On – The Basement" in August 1984.[10] The gig had included guest vocals from Erana Clark and Barry Leaf.

Crossfire reunited briefly in 1991 and issued another album, Tension Release; with the line-up of Bloxsom, Buchanan, Hopes, Kelly, Kenny and Lyon. In July that year they promoted its release with a series of gigs in Sydney.[extract from wikipedia]

Album Review from Canberra Times (11/10/1982)
CROSSFIRE is also an all-Australian group, and I suppose it is appropriate to add my own prejudices to the nationalism which has been so evident these past many days, with Brisbane the epicentre.

There arc six tunes, all of them interesting and, again, all of them written by group members. Keyboard player Michael Kenny wrote the title track (two on side one), 'Youth In Asia' (3/1) and 'Trinity' (2/2); Guitarist Jim Kelly wrote 'No Hands Jive' (1/1), 'Miles Away' (1/2) and 'Let It Slide Down Easy' (3/2). Those two, with Martin Benge, produced the album.

Tony Buchanan

'No Hands Jive' has a Caribbean influence. 'Hysterical Rochords' is nothing like the music implied in the title. Indeed it is a neatly structured, very bluesy piece, with Ton Buchanan's saxophone threading through the tune, bringing it all together.

Again, the music is somewhat different to what is expected from the title of 'Youth In Asia'. There are some passages which hint at Asian subtleties, but Buchanan again seems to be in charge and rather seems to wail like a West Coaster on the rampage.

The sounds continue on the second side, smooth, singing music as is characteristic of Crossfire. Ian Bloxsom's percussion, Phil Scorgie's bass and Steve Hopes' drums are all of importance in the rounded sound.

It is a sound which is distinctive, easy on the ears and which swings. It, too, is Australian, and very good indeed.

Michael Kenny

Another Review 
by Mr MarcGorium's Wonder Emporium

Hysterical Rochords was the fourth album from Australian fusion group Crossfire. This album contains six pieces, all pretty generic jazz fusion, and far more poppy than other jazz fusion albums. If you’re into the 70s era of Zappa, but don’t want the comical side, then this is the album for you.

To be honest, I can’t really find a fault in the performances. The arrangements are quite nice, and there are plenty of nice uses of different instruments all over the place. The hooks on some of the songs are quite good too, and it’s all very clean. There in lies the problem however – it’s just sort of… too polished. There is very little emotion coming from these tracks, and instead it’s just very well executed jazz rock.

Stand out track is the 10 minute ‘Youth In Asia’, which, despite the title, didn’t actually make me want to end my own life. Pretty good music all round, but it will leave you feeling like you needed just a bit more.

This post consists of FLACs ripped from my virgin vinyl and features full album artwork for both CD & Vinyl formats, plus label scans. This is another great album from one of the best jazz rock bands to have come out of Australian. This album is also very hard to find, so you might want to grab yourself a copy here, before it becomes a truly 'historical record'. LOL

Track Listing 
01 - No Hands Jive 5:08
02 - Hysterical Rochords 6:54
03 - Youth in Asia 10:05
04 - Miles Away 5:43
05 - Trinity 7:38
06 - Let It Slide Down Easy 5:36

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Crossfire were:

Jim Kelly - Guitars

Michael Kenny - Keyboards

Ian Bloxson - Percussion, Mallets

Tony Buchanan - Sax, Flute, Clarinet

Phil Scorgie - Bass

Steve Hopes - Drums

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Crossfire FLAC Link (260Mb) New Link 18/12/2023