Gong recommendations

Gazuese, Expresso 2, Camembert electrique

"Angels Egg' comes the closest to "You" in sound, composition, and style. "Flying Teapot" is maybe a little different. At first Daevid Allen's solo releases seemed soft and gentle. Like "Good Morning' and "Now is the Happiest Time of Your Life". His later releases were more busy , but not truly like "You".     "You' was a bit more gymnastic than the others except Angels Egg runs a close race with it.  Sadly Daevid Allen eventually became dis-interested in the musical direction that GONG was going in. He wanted a more gentle sound and the direction that GONG was going in was more muscle bound. Looking back....I wished they would have released a 4th effort with the "You" style. If you ever cross paths with someone who owns "Greasy Truckers at Dingwalls Dance Hall" try to persuade them to play Gong's performance. It's mind blowing....lol! This is of course the second Greasy Truckers release which has never been transfered to cd. The reason "You" is in a musical world of it's own is due to the realization that it was just prior to Steve Hillage's "Fish Rising" and the formation of Pierre Morleon's Gong. It was written and recorded prior to transitions of the developing writing skills of various Gong members. "You" is magical more so than any GONG release. The "OM" riff was re-recorded by Steve Hillage in 1978 and released on "GREEN".

Originally posted by N-sz Originally posted by Anthony H. From You, go forward chronologically in their discography for jazz-fusion, and go backward for spacey stuff. Thanks! Sounds simple enough. Any specific ones that might be particularly of interest?

The whole Angel's Egg trilogy is fantastic. For the fusion, Shamal and Gazeuse are the best.

Bump:  You guys have obviously never heard Gong Est Mort the penultimate last album by the PHP Gong, it was organised by the groups French fans in 1977 and must have been an amazing gig.  Throughout the day all the solo projects such as Daevid Allens band both his solo efforts and the Planet Gong / Here N Now Band, Steve Hillage Band etc played before the original Gong took to the stage at the end of the night.  But Gong Est Mort, Vive Gong represents the full blow out of the You album in live splendour.  Check it out.  Caught Gong in 2009 in Edinburgh where Daevid Allen, Mike Howlet, Steve Hillage played together for the first time in about 30 years a truly amazing experience.














Edited by gliss bliss - December 17 2011 at 10:55

Theres a healthy dose of Angels Egg on Gong Est Mort too, the live album covered most of  the 73 - 75 PHP trilogy and a smattering of tracks from Camembert too.  The album was hard to get on vinyl in the late 80s as it was a French release only on Tapioca Records.  But now with the www and internet land it should be easier to acquire.   

Edited by gliss bliss - December 17 2011 at 11:19

Originally posted by N-sz Originally posted by Anthony H. From You, go forward chronologically in their discography for jazz-fusion, and go backward for spacey stuff. Thanks! Sounds simple enough. Any specific ones that might be particularly of interest?

As others have said get Angels Egg & Flying Teapot from the Pot Head Pixie trilogy (along with the You you already have) and then get Gazeuse & Expresso II from their more fusion period.

I like Shamal well enough from this period but it doesn't hold up as well as Gazeuse & Expresso II IMHO.


Edited by Nogbad_The_Bad - December 17 2011 at 12:53

Zildjian do a nice range...no wait

Originally posted by N-sz I got the album, 'You' a few months ago, and at first I thought it was decent, but now it's really beginning to grow on me. I like the spacey stuff that they do, but most of all, I like the way they orchestrate those short songs like A P.H.Ps Advise, and I especially love Perfect Mystery, with the violins and soprano saxes (or oboes?). I wish they were longer, so I'd like to hear more like that.  What other Gong albums feature that sort of theatrical style? Suggestions could also be some of the other projects like Mother Gong or the main members' solo projects, etc. because I haven't heard anything else from them besides 'You'.