Review: Lance Ferguson - L’Océan de toi (Pacific Theatre)

When you're looking for a new soundtrack to a 'lost' 1981 lounge-exotica French film, you might not immediately think the Lance Ferguson is your man?  Well if not, that's all about to change as here's the brand new soundtrack al la cinematic funk from down under (ooh err).

So, if we ignore the BeeGees, Kylie & Jason, Lance was at the forefront of new Australian musicians that could soul, funk, boogie and all other things.  Having works with (feat. Kylie Auldist) in the Bamboos and Cooking On 3 Burners he's also in Rare Groove Spectrum, Machines Always Win, Menagerie and most recently, The Ferguson Rogers Process.

' L’Océan de toi' consists of 9 tracks of dreamy, sexy, funk that you could play out ('Rue de la Plaix') or just relax to by the Balaeric soul pool, ('Dream Diry', 'Swimming Pool', 'Moonface'), perhaps with a drink or two.

'Green Eyes' is a great example how Lance's guitar can add soul and grace to a big choral sound whist 'The Ocean Of You' is pure pop.  'Vanishing Act' (a key part of the film's story') is envisaged as a big Marvin Gaye stsyle soul/funk instrumental with stings: it's brilliant and then  sooths its way into the title track.

At one time, Fergusson was a weekly feature on Craig Charles' 'Funk & Soul' Radio Show (BBC 6 Music) as Freesstyle and Tru-Thoughts were both releasing his music but even so, still not the obvious choice for the original Director of the flim, Leroi Alarie (now aged 69) to ask to re-score it to replace the original "cobbled together" library sample soundtrack.

Fergusson is now one of many that's come outta Melbourne (get another this week Don Giori - see review HERE) but clearly he's your man of 80's Franco-Aus summer teen film scores, check it out now.

And incredibly enough, out on the same day is Gianni Brezzo's 'Sprechiamo!' that's in a similar OST/library ballpark.

Artist: Lance Ferguson

Title:  L’Océan de toi

Release date: 28th March, 2025

Label : Pacific Theatre

Catalog Number : TBC

Format: 12" Vinyl / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Johnny Pate - Brother On The Run (OST) (BBE Music)

It's a busy day for BBE with the release of a number of re-issues from  the 1970s brilliance of the Perception Records back catalogue. 

But here's the one that's going to be on everyone's list as it's the original soundtrack to 'Brother On Run' by Johnny Pate. 

At the height of Blaxpliotation movies (indeed, this soundtrack got Pate the deal to follow up with the 'Shaft In Africa' soundtrack). And that's something you can hear on the longest track on the album, 'Auto Chase' with Mtume at his best with the big horns and some wah-wah guitar!

If you like a bit of sultry smutz, head straight for 'Ms Johnton's Sex Scene' or the organ sleaze of 'Lady Leaving Store' but what you'll want this album for is the 'Brother Of The Run' main track and the reprises.

Released in 1973, it's funkier than Lalo Schifrin but just as cool as, along with Pate on bass, Mtume is on percussion, Joe Beck guitar and they join Cedric Lawson (keys) and Donald MacDonald (drums).

Label mate. Julius Brockington was feeling this in his 'The United Chair' (review HERE) sessions and feel that Patrick Adams might has missed a trick if he'd got the two together but when ya brother's on the run, ya must just keep truckin' (as they used to say).

Artist: Johnny Pate

Title: Brother On The Run (The Original Soundtrack)

Release date: 17th February, 2023

Label : BBE Music

Catalog Number : BBE703 LP / CD / Digital / Bandcamp 

Review: Cinephonic – Visions (Marlow Records)

Fans of the Souljazz Orchestra may recognise the name Pierre Chrétien as he was the driving force/multi-instrumentalist (Piano, Vibraphone, Marimba, Harp, Accordion, Percussion, Vocals) behind the Canadian group who released a great series of albums on Strut and Do Right! Music!

So with a background of over ten years in a top-rated soul-jazz-afrobeat band, who'd have thought he would have time to link up with fellow Canadian based musician/educator/trumpeter, Ed Lister to form Cinephonic to explored their mutual love of jazz-funk themes and cinema.

Their first album came out in 2020 on Marlow Records, 'Les Paradis Artificiels' and was very 60s OST meets beats.

The follow up, also on Marlow Records, 'Visions' is still in the same film ball park but also a bit prog/psychedelic; and even baraque - if you can imagine a organ happy 60s Procol Harum/Deep Purple (both did albums with orchestras) vs. 'Ascenseur pout l'echafaud'.

And what a vision it is!  Ten tracks with pretty much a 13-piece big band/orchestra that goes from the 'Apache'/'Peter Gunn' themes with "Hank Marvin" on track's like 'Le Combat' that's 'Good, Bad & The Ugly' awesome, the big orchestration on 'L'Exil' and more beat/Axelrod 'Pénombre' and the longest track, 'Le Feu' (check the sax on this one).

The addition of a bit of harpsichord and some Victor Feldman quality vibes are reminiscent of the film noir and there's alos some tracks that remind me of Glyn 'Bigga' Bush's 'The black Albumen' project of last year.

Lister and Pierre star on 'Tribulations' and there's like some echoes of Lalo Schifrin too on 'Les Souterrains' and 'Douleur' but my favourite track where it all comes together is the  glorious light that is, 'L'Étoile'.

This album is what the Resonant FM's OST Show used to be about and if we were still in the good ol' days, Jonny Trunk would have got these guys in for the full 2 hour show as it's the Cinematic Orchestra meets DJ Shadow and with Ennio Morricone!

There's a ever increasing interest in music design for film and films that haven't been made yet) and if this is anything to go by, we'll be back for much more.

P.S. thanks to Benjamin 'From France' for recommending this album to YATM for Valentine's Day - better than going to the cinema!

Artisit: Cinephonic

Title: Visions

Label: Marlow Records

Catalog No./Format: MRLP067 Vinyl / CD / Digital / Bandcamp

Release date: 3rd February, 2023

Personnel:
Zakari Frantz - Flute
Petr Cancura - Tenor Sax
Ed Lister - Trumpet
Ajo Elias - Flugelhorn
Mark Ferguson - Trombone
Mike Schultz - Trombone
Keith Hartshorn-Walton - Tuba
Cendrine Despax - Violin
Jean Despax - Violin
Olivier Philippe-Auguste - Viola
Valérie Despax - Cello
Pierre Chrétien - Piano, Organ, Clavinet, Vibraphone, Guitar, Percussion
Thibeaux Toussaint - Bass
Mike Essoudry - Drums