Brian Auger's Oblivion Express • A Better Land

 

Review
by Thom Jurek  
Whereas Brian Auger had taken the lion's share of composing responsibility on the deft, labyrinthine, jazz-rock debut album by the Oblivion Express, guitarist Jim Mullen steps up to the plate in a big way here, writing or co-writing seven of A Better Land's nine tracks, and arranging "Marai's Wedding," a traditional tune. Auger wrote just one, "Tomorrow City," and co-wrote two with Mullen. The feel and vibe of the record is almost a mirror image of its predecessor from earlier in 1971. Mullen composed on the guitar, therefore, the languid, sparer approach to harmony is everywhere apparent. But it's the songs themselves, with their lush use of acoustic guitars, country music melodies, and early rock tropes, such as on "Dawn of Another Day," the Band-inspired "Trouble," and the ethereal melody of "Women of the Seasons." There is also a pair of tracks here written with future AWB boss Alan Gorrie. The lilting jazz in the lead is countered with infectious pop hooks. On the Auger tunes, "Fill Your Head With Laughter," and "Tomorrow City," R&B is at their hearts. A Better Land is one of the more enduring pop records from the era, with its ultra-sophisticated compositioning and arrangement skills. It's as if the Oblivion Express wanted to reveal themselves as capable of anything, which, of course, they were. This is a fantastic place to start any Brian Auger collection.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-better-land-mw0000178896

///////

Reseña
por Thom Jurek  
Mientras que Brian Auger había asumido la mayor parte de la responsabilidad compositiva en el hábil y laberíntico álbum de debut de jazz-rock de Oblivion Express, el guitarrista Jim Mullen da un paso adelante a lo grande aquí, escribiendo o co-escribiendo siete de los nueve temas de A Better Land, y arreglando "Marai's Wedding", una melodía tradicional. Auger sólo escribió una, "Tomorrow City", y coescribió dos con Mullen. La sensación y el ambiente del disco es casi un reflejo de su predecesor de 1971. Mullen compuso a la guitarra, por lo que el enfoque lánguido y más parco de la armonía es evidente en todas partes. Pero son las propias canciones, con su exuberante uso de las guitarras acústicas, las melodías de la música country y los primeros tropos del rock, como en "Dawn of Another Day", la inspirada por la banda "Trouble" y la etérea melodía de "Women of the Seasons". También hay un par de temas escritos con el futuro jefe de AWB, Alan Gorrie. El jazz cadencioso de los temas principales se contrarresta con ganchos pop contagiosos. En los temas de Auger, "Fill Your Head With Laughter" y "Tomorrow City", el R&B está en su corazón. A Better Land es uno de los discos de pop más duraderos de la época, con su composición y sus arreglos ultrasofisticados. Es como si los Oblivion Express quisieran revelarse como capaces de cualquier cosa, lo que, por supuesto, hicieron. Este es un lugar fantástico para empezar cualquier colección de Brian Auger.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-better-land-mw0000178896


brianauger.com ...

MORE Brian Auger ...

This file is intended only for preview!
I ask you to delete the file from your hard drive or device after reading it.
thank for the original uploader