Reinforcements,Live Oblivion,Search Party,Here And Now and Keys To The Heart - Brian Auger Collection Review

Photo:Angie Gray

Collection Review

Albums reviewed:

Reinforcements
Live Oblivion
Search Party
Here And Now
Keys To The Heart

Brian Auger (and the Trinity) hit the big time when he collaborated with singer Julie Driscoll on massive hippy hit This Wheel's On Fire back in 1968. In June of the same year he scored a number 12 album with Open, both his only chart entries. In the intervening years, the London keyboard wizard (aka Godfather Of Acid Jazz) has released a string of dazzling jazz -funk- rock albums. His innovative style of fusing genres developed after abandoning his early pure jazz roots in 1964. He effectively opened the door for subsequent stars Level 42 and Shakatak in the 80s. These re-issues begin with 1975s Reinforcements as the Oblivion Express, a sextet, where Auger also embraced the writing skills of his band members. In fact this album came as big surprise to his hardcore fans as he dropped the Santana grooves, with the outfit leaning more in the Average White Band territory. With a change of direction it did little to embrace or even increase the group's fanbase. Glaring AWB influences, particularly in the vocal department by Alex Ligertwood confirm this. That said it's a solid enough a recording and indicative of the prevailing 70's blue-eyed soul movement, though on a less commercial angle. Tracks both instrumental and vocal/instrumental go from the 4 - 8 minute mark.

Released in the same year, 1975, Live Oblivion doesn't contain any tracks from Reinforcements. Recorded at the famous Whiskey A Go Go on Sunset Strip Hollywood, it consolidates Auger's live credentials as a supreme musician on his now trademark Hammond B3 organ, with two band line-up changes on bass and drums. Again, the tracks are lengthy, ranging from 8 minutes - Beginning Again - with its scintillating drum and guitar solos found on Don't Look Away - to the 14 minutes plus of funky sojourn Don't Look Away and wildly intoxicating Freedom Jazz Dance. Auger's keyboard work is mesmerising throughout, with a distinct jam feel.

Search Party, Auger's solo album (1981) is more of the same fodder. Keys run riot on Planet Earth Calling with his 11 session musicians as tight as ever. Even cacophonous Red Alert is held together by Auger's deft finger-work. Smooth, Sea Of Tranquillity is quite sublime and perfectly captures the title's meaning. I'm Gone is in Santana's Latino mould - it would have made a great single at the time.

1984s Here And Now is a more basic, even commercial effort. This is a much funkier affair across the board with Julius Farmer's bass the standout feature - Call Me is a classic example. By now there are shades of Steely Dan emerging, particularly in the production. A remix of Night Train To Nowhere would now make a brilliant dance hit. There are some weak-spots - bonus tracks 11, 12, 13.

Back with Oblivion Express, Keys To The Heart (1988) there's less funk. It's a much more measured album, reminiscent of early Level 42 and the Dan - in effect, it's more accessible than earlier offerings, and it's when Auger comes of age - best of the collection - a classy album indeed. Best tracks are the sublime Pools and The Stork.

Elly Roberts