Record Reviews

BRIAN AUGER / OBLIVION EXPRESS ~ CLOSER TO IT (EXPANDED EDITION) CASTLE 1101 (Barcode: 5050749411013) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1973 Released: 2005 4th album by Brian AugerFind albums by this artist’s group Oblivion ExpressFind albums by this artist, recorded after his decision to cross the Atlantic and settle in the US. Following this move most of the players in the band left to go back to UK and Auger (with bass player Barry DeanFind albums by this artist, who decided to stay) added three new players: Jack MillsFind albums by this artist on guitar, Godfrey MacleanFind albums by this artist on drums and Lennox LaingtonFind albums by this artist on congas. The album features Auger on vocals (although scarce) in addition to his exceptional keyboard work (organ, electric piano, moog and string machine). Auger contributed most of the wonderful material with just two tunes coming from outside the band (one by Marvin GayeFind albums by this artist). The music is, as usual, a mixture of jazz, rock, Rhythm And Blues and soul with plenty of space for the musicians to express their ability and improvise. Auger’s jazzy keyboard solos are simply remarkable. For the many Auger’s fans this is a most welcome addition to the reissue program as these editions are far superior to the earlier One WayFind albums on this label or DisconformeFind albums on this label editions.

Updated: 08/05/2023Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

BRIAN AUGER / OBLIVION EXPRESS ~ STRAIGHT AHEAD (EXPANDED EDITION) CASTLE 1102 (Barcode: 5050749411020) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1974 Released: 2005 5th album by Brian AugerFind albums by this artist’s group Oblivion ExpressFind albums by this artist. It features Auger on vocals in addition to his exceptional keyboard work (organ, electric piano, moog and string machine). Bassist Barry DeanFind albums by this artist penned half of the material. Auger contributed only one of his compositions and one jazz standard (Wes MontgomeryFind albums by this artist’s “Bumpin’ On Sunset”) gets a nice treatment. The group includes a drummer and two percussionists, which explains the percussive nature of the arrangements. The music is, as usual, a mixture of Jazz, Rock, Rhythm And Blues and Soul with plenty of space for the musicians to express their ability and improvise. For the many Auger’s fans this is a most welcome addition to the reissue program as these editions are far superior to the earlier One WayFind albums on this label or DisconformeFind albums on this label editions.

Updated: 08/05/2023Posted:

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

BRIAN AUGER / OBLIVION EXPRESS ~ SUPER POP MONTREUX `70 REPERTOIRE 1485 (Barcode: 4009910148525) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1970 Released: 2024 This is an archival live album by the legendary British keyboardist / composer Brian AugerFind albums by this artist and his Oblivion ExpressFind albums by this artist ensemble. A couple of years after Auger performed in Montreux with his TrinityFind albums by this artist and vocalist Julie DriscollFind albums by this artist, he was invited again, this time with his new musical outfit, before it recorded its eponymous debut album. The lineup included guitarist Jim MullenFind albums by this artist, bassist Barry DeanFind albums by this artist and drummer Keith BaileyFind albums by this artist, with Auger handling the vocal duties in addition to playing the keyboards. The album presents nine tracks, four of which are Auger’s original compositions, one is a Classical piece, one is by John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist, two are Jazz standards and one is a Pop song, all arranged by Auger. Recorded some fifty-five years ago, the music offers splendid sound quality. The debut album, recorded just a month after this Montreux appearance, featured the same lineup, except for Bailey, who was replaced by Robbie McIntoshFind albums by this artist. The four Auger originals and the McLaughlin tune were included on the debut album, with one additional tune by Roger BallFind albums by this artist (from Average White BandFind albums by this artist), which was not performed at Montreux. The music is a wonderful cross-genre amalgam of Rhythm And Blues, Rock and Jazz, beautifully put together by Auger’s arrangements and spiritual leadership. The British Jazz-Rock Fusion was already in advanced stages of development, which started somewhere in mid 1960s by a wide spectrum of both Jazz and Rock musicians, looking for a new way of expression, as well as understanding, that the genre division was basically senseless, and music was supposed to express Artistic directions, regardless of the style or the instrument a musician uses. Both McLaughlin and Auger belonged to the huge community of British Jazz-Rock experimentalists, and although quite different stylistically, easily fond a common language. Auger’s ability to combine his pretty complex keyboards improvisations with superb melodic compositions, made him not only one of the great pioneers of the British Jazz-Rock scene, but a great catalyst, who inspired generations of younger musicians to explore music without preconceptions and genre limitations. Overall, this is a wonderful document of a revolutionary era in music, which was exploding with innovation and discovery. Brian has been among my personal favorite musicians since the moment I heard him play in the 1960s, and this love is unconditional, so hearing previously unheard material is obviously a rare moment of total bliss!

Updated: 12/09/2025Posted: 12/09/2025

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend