GONG EST MORT? VIVE GONG!

This is the live recording of the first Gong reunion. As is the case for many of the English contingent who travailed to Paris that day to see Gong play, I had to leave before the Gong set as the gig had over run its time slot and we had no choice but to go. So when this came out in the UK we were delighted, as we had left as "you can't kill me" had started. In truth this is not a strong set, the music sounds jaded and although preformed well, this is nothing more than a competent rendition. Worse by far Gongs best track from the later period "a sprinkling of clouds" is shortened to make it fit. Even at this early stage in their career Gong are it seems happy to milk the public. Frankly most of the other sets that day were far stronger and it is a great shame that the Steve Hillage, Paragong set, has never seen the light of day. For that Matter Tim's Crystal machine set although short was many times more vital than this esoterically safe run through of their material. Frankly I am no longer a big fan of this band, believing that they present a very slippery slope indeed. For gong fans this may well still be essential, if only for the blanked out Hillage photo "he wasn't there folks" And the Allen covers. Well-drawn drivel from the master of the counter-fiat world. Gong should be filed under dangerous to know and left as such in my opnion.