Brian Auger’s 'Streetnoise', recorded in 1969 with Julie Driscoll and The Trinity, stands as a landmark of late 1960s eclecticism, where the boundaries of jazz, rock, folk, and soul blur into a cohesive, genre-defying masterpiece.

Auger was moving The Trinity on from their R&B, jazz beginnings and for 'Streetnoise', together with Driscoll, delivered a record that channelled their mutually progressive vision. Julie's haunting vocal performances were the perfect counterpoint to Auger’s innovative instrumentation, creating a sound that was both avant-garde yet deeply soulful. “We aimed to challenge expectations, ” Auger recalls. “Every track was a canvas to experiment and push the envelope.”

The album’s gatefold sleeve design, created by Ralph Steadman, inspired by William Hogarth's 18th-century satirical etchings, was as groundbreaking as its music. This was not just a cover, it was a bold statement about art and society, perfectly mirroring the music’s blend of historical reverence and forward-thinking innovation.

Musically, 'Streetnoise' is a kaleidoscope of styles including jazz and R&B, fusion, folk, rock and gospel flourishes. 'Ellis Island', and 'Finally Found You Out' are both intense instrumentals that embody the intense fusion of jazz and rock the group was known for. 'Indian Rope Man' is one of the standout tracks. A cover of Richie Havens' original, that inspired The Charlatans ‘Indian Rope’ and 'All Blues', a bold reinterpretation of Miles Davis’ iconic 'Kind of Blue' masterpiece, on which Driscoll's vocal performance may be the highlight. 'Flesh Failures (Let the Sunshine In)' is a hauntingly beautiful cover of the finale from the musical Hair. Auger's own compositions from the opening instrumental 'Tropic Of Capricorn', to the introspective solo piano and vocal Looking In The Eye Of The World' display Brian's multiple talents.

Celebrated for its fearless creativity across all 16 tracks, the album is testament to Brian Auger and Julie Driscoll’s visionary artistry. It remains a must-listen for anyone exploring the dynamic intersections of jazz, rock, and soul. The album’s reputation has only grown with time, cementing its legacy as a cornerstone of experimental music.

'Streetnoise'; A wholly unique album from an equally unique group

TRACK LISTING

1. Tropic Of Capricorn
2. Czechoslovakia
3. Take Me To The Water
4. A Word About Colour
5. Light My Fire
6. Indian Rope Man
7. When I Was A Young Girl
8. Flesh Failures (Let The Sunshine In)
9. Ellis Island
10. In Search Of The Sun
11.. Finally Found You Out
12. Looking In The Eye Of The World
13. Vauxhall To Lambeth Bridge
14. All Blues
15. I’ve Got Life
16. Save The Country

Brian Auger formed The Oblivion Express in 1970 after the demise of his chart topping jazz & R&B combo Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger, and The Trinity. Deciding he would continue to defy creative expectations with his genre bending vision, Auger even based the groups name around this precarious anti-commercial approach; “I decided that I would like to push on and see whether I could develop that music" he recalls, "but maybe I’m headed the quickest way to oblivion!”.

Auger needn't have worried, the bands first slew of albums; the heavy, jazz rock influenced debut 'Oblivion Express', 1971s laconic, folky 'A Better Land', the proto jazz funk of 'Straight Ahead' released in 1972, all made serious inroads into the United States, which proved to particularly fertile ground for the group.

By 1973, the London born Auger felt his various American influences of jazz, R&B, funk and soul had fermented into his own brand of fusion, and upon listening to the final mixes, was confident he was approaching his original musical mission, hence naming the album 'Closer To It'.

It's predecessor, 'Straight Ahead' had hit the US charts, and awoken RCA Records to the crossover potential of this somewhat undefinable music, who stepped up their game in regards the follow up, which broke out in the Tri State area, where it received major radio and press support and billboard advertising whilst the band were touring. All these factors combined favourably and resulted in Closer To It entering the Billboard Jazz, R&B and Rock charts simultaneously!

For a British multi-racial group composed of fans of African American music, this was both creatively and commercially satisfying. This acceptance of the Oblivion Express’ sound and style also led to the band touring with Herbie Hancock's Head-hunters and Earth Wind & Fire, and Brian receiving a US Congressional Certificate of Special Recognition for his ‘contribution to the American art form of Jazz’.

Regarded as his masterpiece, 'Closer To It' features some of Augers' most inventive and beautiful Hammond Organ and Fender Rhodes playing, on tunes that become the defining tracks of his career, especially the anthemic opener Whenever You're Ready, co-written with bass player Barry Dean. Happiness Is Just Around The Bend was later covered by Cuba Gooding Snrs' band The Main Ingredient who had a major hit with their version. Auger also saluted his soul and jazz hero's with his versions of Marvin Gays Inner City Blues and Eddie Harris, Les McCann's classic Compared To What.

With an iconic cover featuring the Oblivion Express train logo designed by Auger's wife Ella. Closer To It remains a highpoint in Auger's recording career.

TRACK LISTING

1. Whenever You’re Ready
2. Happiness Is Just Around The Bend
3. Light On The Path
4. Compared To What
5. Inner City Blues
6. Voices Of Other Times

Live albums are often a ‘hit or miss’ affair but ‘Live Oblivion’ 1 & 2 buck that trend, Recorded across 2 nights in 1974 at the Hollywood venue The Whisky A Go Go. The group were finishing off a huge US tour that had roared down the east coast then across the Midwest and by the time they hit LA, as Brian recalls “we were all absolutely performing at our height. So I decided that I really needed to record the band live at that point”. Utilising the Wally Heider Mobile Truck, the scene was set for one of the greatest jazz-fusion live recordings to be made. The show opens with a hyper fast version of Beginning Again due to drummer Steve Ferrone being almost an hour late and running high on adrenaline, Brian remembers thinking “I don’t even know if I can play it that fast!” Fortunately, he and the Oblivion Express including stellar vocalist Alex Ligertwood rise to the challenge and the result is akin to some frenetic jazzy drum & bass but also pushes the group onto another level altogether for the rest of the show. Across both volumes there are no fillers and the highlights are many - Bumpin’ On Sunset, Freedom Jazz Dance, and Inner City Blues are all stunning, but especially the epic version of Maiden Voyage which Mos Def sampled on his 1997 'If You Can Huh! You Can Hear', and both DJ Mitsu in 2004 and 2017 Crimeapple both dipped into Live Oblivion to sample that fire for their own projects.

Auger, in the original liner notes opines how live recordings can often have drawbacks but "I hope that spirit shines through" Live Oblivion 1 & 2, 50 years on from being committed to tape, certainly achieve that and much more. 

TRACK LISTING

1. Beginning Again
2. Don't Look Away
3. Bumpin' On Sunset
4. Truth 

Live albums are often a ‘hit or miss’ affair but ‘Live Oblivion’ 1 & 2 buck that trend, Recorded across 2 nights in 1974 at the Hollywood venue The Whisky A Go Go. The group were finishing off a huge US tour that had roared down the east coast then across the Midwest and by the time they hit LA, as Brian recalls “we were all absolutely performing at our height. So I decided that I really needed to record the band live at that point”. Utilising the Wally Heider Mobile Truck, the scene was set for one of the greatest jazz-fusion live recordings to be made. The show opens with a hyper fast version of Beginning Again due to drummer Steve Ferrone being almost an hour late and running high on adrenaline, Brian remembers thinking “I don’t even know if I can play it that fast!” Fortunately, he and the Oblivion Express including stellar vocalist Alex Ligertwood rise to the challenge and the result is akin to some frenetic jazzy drum & bass but also pushes the group onto another level altogether for the rest of the show. Across both volumes there are no fillers and the highlights are many - Bumpin’ On Sunset, Freedom Jazz Dance, and Inner City Blues are all stunning, but especially the epic version of Maiden Voyage which Mos Def sampled on his 1997 'If You Can Huh! You Can Hear', and both DJ Mitsu in 2004 and 2017 Crimeapple both dipped into Live Oblivion to sample that fire for their own projects.

Auger, in the original liner notes opines how live recordings can often have drawbacks but "I hope that spirit shines through" Live Oblivion 1 & 2, 50 years on from being committed to tape, certainly achieve that and much more. 

TRACK LISTING

1. Freedom Jazz Dance
2. Happiness Is Just Around The Bend
3. Maiden Voyage
4. Second Wind
5. Whenever You're Ready
6. Inner City Blues
7. Straight Ahead
8. Compared To What 

Revered composer, pianist, DJ and acknowledged bridge between jazz, dance and hip-hop, Mark de Clive-Lowe (MdCL), links up with jazz vocalist/flautist Melanie Charles and Detroit drummer/producer & DJ, Shigeto on Hotel San Claudio, a collaborative LP of spiritual jazz and live deconstructed beats. Following Melanie Charles’ formidable Verve album Y’all Don’t (Really) Care About Black Women and MdCL's lauded 2022 Soul Bank album, Freedom – Celebrating the Music of Pharoah Sanders, the three forward-thinking musicians unite for a sonic exploration across jazz, hip-hop and soulful house.

This project was seeded in Detroit, USA, in 2018 when MdCL (Nubya Garcia, Bugz In The Attic, Ge-Ology), was invited to perform alongside Detroit native Zach Saginaw aka Shigeto (Andrés, Dabrye, Shlohmo) at local spot, MotorCity Wine despite the two having never actually met. Months later, the Italian Fat Fat Fat Festival invited them to open their 2019 programme, yet the duo felt a piece of the puzzle was missing. Enter the “triple threat”, Melanie Charles. Having first connected post-show at a festival in Brooklyn in Oct 2018 MdCL knew Charles was the perfect fit.

In light of Pharoah Sanders passing, there's reinterpre- tations of The Creator Has a Master Plan (Part's 1 & 2) and Love is Everywhere reimagining them for the here and now. Strings speaks to the group’s love of hip-hop, whilst Kanazawa references a love of soulful house, with Charles’ 70s disco/fusion flute solo, leading into a euphoric, climactic outro. Bushido leans even heavier on 70s jazz fusion, MFT showcases Charles’ sublime vocals, affording a vast, celestial quality that stands present throughout Hotel San Claudio. 

TRACK LISTING

01/A1: The Creator Has A Master Plan (Part I)
02/A2: Strings
03/A3: MFT
04/A4: Bushido
05/A5: Interlude (Contorni)
06/B1: Kanazawa
07/B2: Love Is Everywhere
08/B3: Interlude (Digestivo)
09/B4: The Creator Has A Master Plan (Part II)

As a lifelong soul boy - poet, actor, presenter Craig Charles has been adding to his trunk of funk music since his youth, and now after almost 20 years hosting his world renowned BBC6 Music and Radio 2 shows, DJing at clubs and festivals around the globe his reputation as an ambassador for all things soulful & funky is indisputable.

Craig was overwhelmed with the success of Volume 1 which hit the Official UK Album charts; “It’s been a whole year (and what a weird year) since I unleashed Volume 1 on a music starved world. It clearly hit home with a funk hungry public as it got into the UK charts, nestled between film soundtracks and pop compilations, so I’d like to thank everyone for supporting – especially those who grabbed the double vinyl album – that was an instant sell out!”

Volume 2 contains all the trademark features his fans have come to love - kicking off with The Allergies – and their 100% exclusive Trunk Of Funk remix of their bombastic Move On Baby. Ranging from Luther Ingrams’ If It’s All The Same To You Babe – a Northern Soul stomper extraordinaire from 1966 – through to 21st century soul champions Joseph Malik and Joel Culpepper, New Orleans born, London based Acantha Lang who Craig describes as an ‘independent artist destined for world domination’, the obscure and bizarre psychedelic 70’s funk of Your Autumn Of Tomorrow by The Crow.

Volume 2 the only place you’ll ever get to hear Smoove & Turrells’ Exclusive Trunk Of Funk edit of Slow Down. The classic dance floor jazz magic of Mario Biondis’ This Is What You Are still sparkles, and the funk driven soul-jazz of Seattle’s Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio hits sweet and hard - this brand new Trunk Of Funk draws together old and new music from all four corners of the globe into one beautiful collection, or as Craig puts it “I’m confident this second volume of my Trunk Of Funk will tick all your musical boxes, give your ears and feet enough mellifluous musical fodder to last you until Volume 3 – Awooga!”

TRACK LISTING

A1/1. The Allergies - Slow Down Baby - Exclusive Trunk Of Funk Remix
A2/2. Cha Wa - My People
A3/3. Acantha Lang - He Said / She Said
A4/4. The Lafayette Afro Rock 22Band - Soul Makossa
A5/5. STR4TA - Rhythm In Your Mind
B1/6. The Bamboos - Ride On Time
B2/7. Jay Nemor & Electrified - Sitting On Top Of The World
B3/8. Mario Biondi – This Is What You Are
B4/9. Luther Ingram - If It’s All The Same To You Babe
B5/10. The Souljazz Orchestra - Sorrow Fly Away
C1/11 Smoove & Turrell - Slow Down – Smooves Exclusive Trunk Of Funk Edit
C2/12. Joseph Malik - Mixed Race Combination
C3/13. The Crow - Your Autumn Of Tomorrow
C4/14. Ferry Ultra Ft Ashley Slater - Why Did You Do It? – The Reflex Revision (Edit)
C5/15. The Traffic - Beat It
D1/16. Lettuce Ft. Big Tony & Jungle Boogie – Checker Wrecker
D2/17. Joel Culpepper - WAR
D3/18. Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio - Hole In One
D4/19. PM Warson - (Don't) Hold Me Down