Albatross formed in September 1972, after the split of legendary Sydney band Tamam Shud. The initial lineup was a trio, comprising Lindsay Bjerre and Peter Baron (both ex-Shud) and drummer Kim Bryant (ex-Country Radio). While bands like The Aztecs and The La De Das and were mining the rich veins of blues, boogie and heavy rock, Albatross took a different tack, exploring a mellower, acoustically-based style that was a development from the quieter side of Tamam Shud's progressive/psychedelic sound. Albatross' music incorporated elements of folk and country music, as were a number of other contemporary Australian groups like Country Radio, The Flying Circus and The Dingoes. Lyrically, the band's material continued Bjerre's concerns with spirituality, nature and environmental issues. The band's home-base was on Sydney's northern beaches, and during the year of its existence Albatross played regularly at the Memorial Hall in the Sydney beachside suburb of Mona Vale.
At New Year 1972-73 Albatross played at the ill-fated Bungool Festival near Windsor, NSW, which was poorly attended due conflict with the local council, which led to the first day of the event being cancelled. In early 1973 the band was augmented by Lindsay's wife Simone on vocals and in April they were joined by multi-instrumentalist Richard Lockwood, (ex-Tully), who had also played with the last version of Tamam Shud. This augmented lineup recorded the group's only LP, 'A Breath Of Fresh Air' (Warner Reprise) produced by Gus McNeil, which also included session contributions from Gary Frederick (slide guitar), Pirana organist Keith Greig (keyboards) and Country Radio's Chris Blanchflower (harmonica). Albatross gained important exposure with a prestigious support spot on Frank Zappa's first Australian tour in July 1973, but the band did not last out the year, and had already broken up by the time the LP was released in November.
Members
Peter Baron (bass), Kim Bryant (drums), Lindsay Bjerre (vocals, guitar, bouzouki, mandolin), Simone Bjerre (bass), Richard Lockwood (saxophone, flute, clarinet)
'A Breath Of Fresh Air' 1973 Reprise
References
http://www.milesago.com/artists/albatross.htm
http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/
Behold! there beith another ALBATROSS in Melbourne which had two drummers and they worked at Billy Hydes. I was at the shop buying drumsticks and got asked if I want to be a roadie for a night. Man they sounded great. That was 1981 and my ears are still ringing Back in the USSR,
ReplyDeleteUNKNOWN!? I'm not unknown I was the famous Frankston B BEAR !
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