BANANA MOON

Daevid Allen's, great Australian beatnik and Soft Machine and Gong musician's debut solo album is a strange thing. Strange not in a sense of Canterbury sound, whenever you're waiting for that. No.

It is strange because there are not too much of this Canterbury sound, what every listener could expect from such album. Possibly it is just my very personal opinion, but I found there on this album heavily psychedelic version of something, what reminded me mostly Captain Beefheart's works. Less bluesy and with more complex music, but kind of avant-proto-prog. Some rock'n'rollin' guitars, shouting vocals, plenty of distorted instrumental sounds. Quite minimalistic music. Many traces of early psychedelic rock, very few - from something, what could be named jazz-rock. Almost no connection with classic Allen's Gong (Trilogy period), possibly some moments, reminding early Gong albums.

For me, it's difficult to valuate this album from Canterbury scene position. Easier to name it original and freaky psychedelic work, with some extended solos and few jazzy inclusions. Not for everyone taste for sure. But raw and fresh example for Daevid Allen fans.