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

ZZEBRA ~ ZZEBRA DISCONFORME 1954 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock 1st album from 1974 by this fantastic UK group which was fromed by members of the Jazz/Rock group If and the African Rock group Osibisa. Thogether the musicians created a high energy mix of incredible quality with strong jazzy feel and absorbing rhythmic background. Extended compositions with ample space for lenghty solos by the virtuoso players. An energy bomb!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

	ZZEBRA ~ PANIC DISCONFORME 1955 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock 2nd album from 1975. More of the same energetic music with jazzy compositions and African rhythms. Some vocals were added on this one to spice things up, but the general concept remains the same. This music keep your feet moving.
	CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

ZZEBRA ~ TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT DISCONFORME 1956 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock 3rd album from 1975 and the last album to be released (another album was recorded but it was released only in 2002). Similar in concept to the previous material but slightly more commercial (not that it did them any good as far as `making it` was concerned). Still a worthy effort and a nice album that stands the test of time quite well.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

WINSTONE, NORMA ~ EDGE OF TIME DISCONFORME 1962 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock 1st album from 1972 by one of the greatest UK singers of all times. Although primarily a jazz singer, Norma is accompanied here by many musicians associated with the Prog scene such as Gary Boyle (Isotope) on guitar and the album has a very Progy feel, probably due to the fact that the Prog and modern jazz scenes in UK were quite interchangable at the time. A beautiful album and a rare gem!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

KEITH TIPPETT ~ YOU ARE HERE... I AM THERE DISCONFORME 1963 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock 1st album from 1970 by the legendary UK pianist, who had extremely strong ties with the entire Prog scene and played on many very well known classic albums, including King Crimson. His own music is much more improvised and jazzy, representing the modern jazz movement that was at its peak at the time. The original album is a rarity and this is the only available reissue.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

KEITH TIPPETT ~ DEDICATED TO YOU, BUT YOU WEREN`T LISTENING DISCONFORME 1964 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock 2nd album from 1971 by the UK pianist and composer, ranging between Prog and free jazz with a stellar lineup including Elton Dean, Robert Wyatt and many other UK greats. Tippett was one of the pioneers of the UK free jazz movement and was closely associated with the Prog scene, playing among others on the early King Crimson albums.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

CENTIPEDE ~ SEPTOBER ENERGY DISCONFORME 1965 (Barcode: 8436006499654) ~ UK ~ Jazz Recorded: 1971 Released: 2000 Only album by the giant ensemble CentipedeFind albums by this artist (over 50 musicians) led by the pianist Keith TippettFind albums by this artist and including members of all the great Prog, Jazz and Avant-Garde groups active at the time (Soft MachineFind albums by this artist, King CrimsonFind albums by this artist a.m.o.) - almost the entire UK Prog and Jazz scene at that time. The music is mostly improvised with spectaculat solos, very jazzy and sometimes even very free. This is a milestone in the history of British Prog and modern Jazz.

Updated: 12/04/2019Posted:

CD 2 Recommend To A Friend

JULIE DRISCOLL ~ 1969 DISCONFORME 1966 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock 1st solo album from 1971 by this superb vocalist after she left her long association with the keyboards player Brian Auger. Julie moves strongly towards the more challenging Prog environment supported by a stellar line-up of musicians led by her husband to be Keith Tippett (she would be later called Julie Tippetts). Fantastic guitar by Chris Spedding and the sublime Brian Godding. One of the best albums ever in the history of early UK Prog with strong ties to the UK jazz scene.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend