CAMEMBERT ELECTRIQUE

Gong can be a bit of a frustrating experience. Their experimental compulsions make their albums as much of a hit as they can be a miss. Their style is highly eclectic, reminding me of Gentle Giant, Soft Machine and obvious space-rock overtones from Floyd and Hawkwind.

You can't Kill Me is a classic, a calling card for their unique sound. A good tag to describe it with would be space-jazz. I also hear some echoes of VDGG here. There's goofy humour aplenty as well in this music, as testified by the delirious I've Bin Stone Before. But Mister Long Shanks won't get them high up in my list of competent song writers any time soon. Dynamite on the other hand is another essential Gong track.

One of the most compelling moments on the album is Fohat Digs Holes in Space, especially for its opening 3 minute acid-trip. The second part is an ordinary psychedelic rock tune, right from 1967. Nothing special. The only highlight further on is Tropical Fish, although it also can't make up its mind between being an old-fashioned psychedelic pop-tune or going for a full fledged space-trip.

Uneven and fascinating. Two words that pretty much sum it up for a lot of Gong albums. 2.5 stars