LIVE AT THE GONG FAMILY UNCONVENTIONAL GATHERING

The climactic performance at the 2006 Gong Family Unconventional Gathering - following on from various performances from solo projects and bands in the wider Gong universe - found a range of Gong veterans taking to the stage for a triumphal trip through the hits. The focus is very much on the Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy and Camembert Electrique, which most would say constitute the best material of the band's first era, prior to Daevid Allen's first departure.

This is, to be honest, exactly what you want out of a reunion exercise like this - let later lineups and other projects in the wider galaxy go more experimental and strive for novelty. Most of the lineup here would come together again in the studio to put together 2032, which can be seen as the final chapter of "old Gong" - after that, Allen and Gilli Smyth used the I See You album to pass the torch to a much younger and more or less entirely new lineup, who have kept the spirit of the group going after Allen and Smyth's deaths. 2032, though, seems to have had a fairly tepid reception. Perhaps this is a better way to remember the early 1970s veterans of the group - together again, playing the material which won over the hearts of their fanbase, and at peace with each other after the ups and downs of prior years.