THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SKY (A COLLECTION)

I have had this compilation for the last three years, gathering dust in my music collection. I have never had the courage to listen to it. The same goes for the rest of my Gong albums. I have bought and then stored them for later. I have now decided that my next year's project is to getting to know Gong and Soft Machine. So I dusted of this double CD and put them in my CD player. What happened next...........

GONG is a strange band and almost impossible to access for a mortal soul like myself. What annoyed me first was the Opium For The People track. It is a track which Clash could had included on the Sandinista album. Then some more jazzy tracks fills the room and my face is even breaking into a smile. Well, make that a grin. Gong's music is almost impossible to penetrate for a listener with no background from jazz. Gong does not do jazz, but their philosophy is in that ballpark. The other reviewers here has stated that this is the best compilation CD from Gong's best albums. I guess they are right. In that case; the booklet could had been a lot better. It is not bad, but a bigger booklet would had made this an even more essential compilation album than it is. The CD # 2 is clearly the best CD and at times, superb.

I am a Gong novice and I have been listening to this album twice already. I think it is a good introduction to the rest of the Gong universe. Well, I hope so ! The music........... well, it is a compilation album. I think Gong should be judged on their studio albums and not this album. This album is recommended for all those who are curious about Gong and their music.

3.5 stars and I am now moving on to the rest of the Gong and Soft Machine's albums.