Albatross

Sydney 1972-73
 
See also: [The Four Strangers] [The Sunsets] [Tamam Shud]

Personnel

Peter Baron [bs]
Kim Bryant [dr]
Lindsay Bjerre [gtr,vcls]
Simone Bjerre [vcls] 1973
Richard Lockwood [sax, flute, clarinet] 1973

Biography

Albatross formed in September 1972, after the split of legendary Sydney band Tamam Shud. The initial lineup was a trio, comprising Bjerre and 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 departed from this trend, and from Shud's progressive/psychedelic sound, exploring a mellower, acoustically-based style. Songwriter Lindsay Bjerre was also incorporating elements of folk and country-music, as were a number of other contemporary Australian groups like Country Radio, Home and The Dingoes. Lyrically, the band's material continued Bjerre's concerns with sprituality, nature and environmental issues. Their 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.

In early 1973 the band was augmented by Lindsay's wife Simone on vocals; they later added multi-instrumentalist Richard Lockwood (Tamam Shud, Tully), who joined in April 1973. Both contributed to Albatross' only LP, A Breath Of Fresh Air (Warner Reprise) which also included session playing by Gary Frederick (slide guitar) and Keith Greig (organ). They secured important exposure with a prestigious support spot on Frank Zappa's his first Australian tour, but the band did not last out the year, and had already broken up by the time the LP was released in November. The album is now highly collectible and Sydney's Ashwood's Records were recently selling a copy for AU$120!

Bjerre spent the next few years pursuing religious interests and travelling; he also wrote a rock opera (never-performed) and studied mime in England with theatrical legend Lindsay Kemp. He re-emerged in 1977,with a new performance persona, simply called Bjerre, and he scored a surprise hit with the single She Taught Me How To Love Again.

Discography

Albums
1973 A Breath Of Fresh Air [Reprise RS 4002] gatefold sleeve
The Angel & the Boy 
Bouzouki Boogie 
A Breath of Fresh Air 
Drop Me a Line 
The Drowning Song 
Escher's Door 
Full Moon 
The Games Cards Play 
Mermaid 
A Message to You 
Nimbin Stopover 
Seashell Secrets 
Wings of the Albatross 

(all songs by Lindsay Bjerre) 

"Within your depths you hold infinite melody. We musicians are your instruments. Play me gently and I shell deliver gentle melody to your ears. Play me with torment and my music shall be torment to your ears. I am the musician, you are the audience, music is our love, Love is the home of God." 

(cover inscription from the LP)
 

References