Who could doubt, for those of a certain age, that the song ‘This Wheels On Fire’ by the Brian Auger Trinity formed part of the soundtrack to their lives. It featured vocals by Julie Driscoll, which for Auger represented a significant collaboration in a career packed full of them. Despite being in the music business for in excess of fifty years Auger has released relatively few solo albums so it is particularly pleasing that he is back on the recording scene with the CD ‘Language Of The Heart’. Produced by Franck Balloffet and Phil Bunch (aka Tea) who also contribute on guitars and keyboards respectively, this eclectic collection includes input from guitarist Jeffrey ‘Skunk’ Baxter who of course was a founding member of Steely Dan and also played with the Doobie Brothers. Joining Baxter on guitars is Julian Coryell (son of Larry Coryell) and talking of famous parents, Auger’s son and daughter, Karma and Savannah, also play a part.
Opening up with the intense ‘Autoroute’, Auger’s magic on keys is immediately apparent. He also takes the lead on vocals and in this respect is ably supported by Savannah Auger. When they again combine for the pleasantly rhythmic ‘Seasons’ Auger on Hammond B3 delivers a typically thrusting performance.
The hugely retro tinged ‘Flying Free’ finds Coryell in fine form on guitar and Karma Auger just as good on congas. In many ways the track feels like a delicious throwback to the late sixties and later, for ‘Hymn to Morning’, Auger draws on inspirations as diverse as Claude Debussey, Robert Browning and Brazilian singer-songwriter Milton Nascimento. The result is very new age and decidedly ethereal while a similarly relaxed vibe comes courtesy of the wonderful title cut which fuses vocals with Augers superb playing to spectacular effect.
In terms of personal favorites the smoky ‘Ella’ proves to be a Brian Auger instrumental master class and equally impressive is the fabulous ‘Venice Street Fair’. Motivated by the Annual Street fair in Venice Beach, CA, where Brian now resides, this deceptively easy grooving number is added to in no small measure by a guitar solo from Baxter that is right on the money.