Description
Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express – Voices Of Other Times – Compact Disc
Brian Auger’s Oblivion Express – Voices of Other Times, released in 1999, is a late-era offering from one of the true pioneers of jazz-rock fusion and progressive soul. This album finds keyboardist, bandleader, and Hammond B3 virtuoso Brian Auger revisiting the spirit of his earlier Oblivion Express work while updating the sound for a new generation. With a lineup that includes his children Karma Auger on drums and Savannah Auger on vocals, Voices of Other Times becomes not only a musical statement, but a family affair, merging past and present with warmth, groove, and sophistication.
The album retains the core DNA of the Oblivion Express: infectious funk rhythms, soulful vocals, extended instrumental passages, and Auger’s signature organ and Rhodes playing, which glides effortlessly between jazz phrasing and rock intensity. However, unlike the rawer, more exploratory albums of the 1970s (like Closer to It! or Second Wind), Voices of Other Times leans into a more polished, smooth-jazz-meets-fusion sound, without losing the authenticity or soulfulness that defines Auger’s approach.
The tracks blend groove-based instrumentals with songs that touch on themes of time, love, and human connection. Savannah Auger’s vocals are a standout—her soulful, contemporary tone adds freshness to the album, balancing well with her father’s seasoned, expressive keyboard work. The title itself, Voices of Other Times, feels apt: the album carries the vibe of a past musical era—’70s jazz-funk and acid jazz—with a modern sensibility and production.
Highlights include rhythmic tracks driven by syncopated drums and percussive keyboard lines, while slower, more contemplative moments allow space for melody and lyrical introspection. There’s a reflective mood throughout the album—a sense of an artist looking back, not with nostalgia, but with clarity and renewed creativity.
Voices of Other Times may not have the same cultural impact as Auger’s groundbreaking early albums, but it’s a thoughtful, well-played, and emotionally rich entry in his discography. For longtime fans of Brian Auger, it’s a welcome return to the Oblivion Express ethos, with a fresh lineup and a clear message: the groove never dies, it just evolves with the times.
Brand new, never played and still sealed in the factory plastic
Track Listing
It Burns Me Up
Isola Natale
Voices Of Other Times
Splatch
Indian Rope Man
Soul Glow
Victor’s Delight
Circles
Never Gonna Come Down
Jam Side Down
