THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SKY (A COLLECTION)

First some of the technical details, the percentages are just approximate only. This compilation is taken from mainly Camembert Electrique 65%, Flying Teapot 50%, Angel's Egg 55%, You 60%, planet Gong weigh in with 2 tracks at the end and New York gong include one track materialism. Many tracks segue as suites and though timed separately as per the original albums they play as one track on this compilation.

CD 1 Squeezing Sponges Over Policemen's Heads (0:12) Camembert Electrique Fohat Digs Holes In Space (6:22) Camembert Electrique I never glid before (5:36) Angel's Egg Opium For the People Live Floating Anarchy Thoughts for naught (1:30) You A P.H.P.'s advice (1:37) You Magick mother invocation (2:11) You Master builder (6:09) You Tropical Fish/Selene (7:36) Camembert Electrique The Pot Head Pixies Flying Teapot And You Tried So Hard (4:38) Camembert Electrique A sprinkling of clouds (8:42) You And You Tried So Hard (4:38) Camembert Electrique Flute salad (2:09) Angel's Egg Oily way (3:37) Angel's Egg Outer temple (1:09) Angel's Egg Inner temple (2:34) Angel's Egg Materialism About Time - New York Gong Eat that phonebook coda (3:12) Angel's Egg

CD 2 Radio Gnome Prediction (0:27) Camembert Electrique You Can't Kill Me (6:18) Camembert Electrique Other side of the sky (7:40) Angel's Egg Sold on the highest buddha (4:25) Angel's Egg Castle in the clouds (1:09) Angel's Egg The isle of everywhere (10:21) You Radio Gnome Invisible Flying Teapot Flying Teapot Flying Teapot Psychological Overture / Floating Anarchy Live Floating Anarchy - Planet Gong Allez Ali black Sheep Have You Any Bullshit Mama Maya Mantra Live Floating Anarchy - Planet Gong

Some observations. For a trilogy I have to say the inclusion of so much Camembert Electrique material seems to make this trilogy (Flying Teapot, Angel's egg and You being Pts 1, 2 and 3 and the cheese album being the prelude. Unless this is a trilogy in four parts - like Hitchiker's Guide.

It's one way of getting much of four albums plus the 'bonus" tracks which (imho) are very good. you can get an idea of the music from the other reviews. It is trippy, silly, funny, odd, spacey, with some rather deft playing (prog) rather than too many grooves with solos (pysch). But you get that as well... So a combination of Pysch / prog but enjoyable. unless you hate this sort of thing then it isn't. There is no fusion representation from Pierre Moerlen's version of Gong. Good compilation to start with but if you're halfway convinced then I would recommend getting the main four albums if you're feeling rich. The New York and Planet Gong lineups do not get fair representation but aftre hearing the Planet Gong tracks I'm tempted to get that one as well. It's all very original music but that's not the point of this review. This is to decide whether a compilation is a suitable start or should you go ahead and get the albums which are aminly represented here anyway. If i knew then what I know now I would get the four albums provided they were remastered with proper and complete art work. Of course if this set is dirt cheap and you wonder what this version of gong is all about pick it up and you'll get an idea. I like the longer more musically intensive tracks and they are very worthwhile for that. The silly lyrics don't really intrude too much but they are there.

As a compilation, four stars, as an intro to Gong 71 -74 four stars, as an annoying way of getting the 4 part trilogy because of all the missing tracks one star. As an album four stars. Make of that what you will. It's a bit like Gentle giant's edge of darkness compilation with the same result.

So 3.5 stars really. Can't be mean for such a consistent and enjoyable album taken as an entity. The albums proper are essential for your collection, this compilation is fine in and of itself.