Brian´s Auger Oblivion Express-Second Wind (1972)

On his ninth album with his band Oblivion Express, organist Brian Auger expanded the lineup with a new vocalist, Alex Ligertwood, a guitarist and singer who had previously worked with the Jeff Beck Group. While the foundation of this new work remains an innovative, heavy jazz-rock sound, Auger incorporates other stylistic elements such as rhythm and blues and funk, styles that had appeared sporadically in his earlier work, but which are more prominent here. Songs like the energetic opening track, "Truth", have that characteristic Santana Latin rock feel. Written by Ligertwood, the bass, guitar, and Hammond organ sequences make for a strong start. In contrast to the latter, there is the more contemplative "Don't Look Away", the galloping jazz rock "Somebody Help Us", the dynamic with funk and rhythm and blues arrangements "Freedom Jazz Dance", or the excellent jazz fusion rock "Just Me Just You", while the song that gives the album its title, is an intense jazz rock driven by the interaction of Jim Mullen's guitar, the precise rhythm section composed of bassist Barry Dean and drummer Robbie McIntosh, along with Auger's organ, finally culminating this superb and surprising ninth album by Brian Auger's Oblivion Express.