2032

Well what can I say, this certainly had the potential to be a good record. After all it is as close to a full classic line up as is possible, minis Hi T. Moonweed of course. This missing member should have tipped me off, but more of that later. In some ways it works although the music is admittedly rather repetitive. Daevid Allen indeed seems ageless, a clear indication of a mind that has been freed of many errors. However Gilli seems to have morphed into a completely different animal (I am your animal) her lyrics on yoni poem, made me want to puke my dinner up. What has she become seems she is intent on leading people up the garden path. Yoni poem is so unpleasant that it's a wonder that Allen, Melherbe, Hillage etc are willing to work with her. Look kids the php on your computer has nothing to do with gong, don't get sucked into her mind games she is a nasty woman IMHO. So shocked and put off was I by this one abuse of the recording studio that I turned it off and didn't go near it again for a couple of days "that record did my head in "said my wife and I agree it was not a pleasant experience. Otherwise the music is often simplistic and there are many references to old Gong numbers. Hillage is most often mixed to far back and the lyrics are used , it seems to make up for the lack of compositional skills on offer. A 100% Gong nutter will likely find plenty to encourage them to buy further outpourings. Sadly as far as I am concerned "You" remains the last truly worthy recording by this band. I cannot of course speak for Tim Blake, but I do note that he continues to cut decent records that display a good heart. To be honest this record has some good moments but the moment the lyrics start to bite, its time to switch off. Frankly kids this band is past its sell by date, and no I am not simply being a critic, there is something unhealthy about the lyrics of Ms Smyth and really there always was, but she used to hide them deep in the echo units. Don't get pulled into the planet gong story it's a counter-fiat nonsense spread to keep you off the scent. There is far to much of this kind of thing in modern music, Gong may not sound like a classic Satanic rock band, but this is Shiva worship designed to part you of your hard earned cash. This is the work of wrong headed and deeply cynical people, with the sole intention of fathering their own retirements. If you have any kind of common sense you will give this record a miss. Wish I had!