Aura (ca)
Sativa
A heavy, oft-sampled slab of Bay Area history, and a PSYCH FUNK MASTERPIECE that cannot be denied. Aura formed in 1974 and played extensively throughout Northern California. By 1976, the band recorded their first and only album at Pacific Recording Studio in San Mateo. The original title of the album was meant to be 'Sativa', but out of fear that promoting the joys of marijuana would be too controversial, the band omitted the title and just left it as 'Aura'. Over the ensuing decades, the 'Aura' album has grown in stature to become a major soul/funk collector's item. It features a number of major funk tracks plus funky ballads with female vocals. Standouts include 'Sativa' (heavy 70's funk with waterpipe sound effects and blistering guitar), and the manic fuzz-guitar jam 'Skyrocket.' Old style tip-on jacket and quality limited edition vinyl pressing, mastered from the original tapes. Psych-heads will be interested to know that the line-up of this band included guitarist Reggie Weiss, former member of '60s garage/popsike teen-heroes THE LEMON DROPS!