25TH BIRTHDAY PARTY

I'd love to give this double-cd live album four stars, but it has a fairly major problem: the sound is very reverberant. It reminds me of many bootleg live recordings I've heard that have good fidelity, but just too much reverb due to the fact that they were not taken directly from the soundboard. Perhaps the intention was to give the recording a more "you are there" feel, but other live Gong recordings I've heard do not share this quality. Performances are good, the song selection is good (if typical), but it's not easy for me to get past that "wet" sound...

I had high hopes for this recording after all, its got Tim and steffi. Why doesnt it work after all it should be a classic. A big big problem is the sound this is incredible wearing to listen to. I have heard many way better boot legs and also way better sets than this. I believe a good time was had (i missed this) but if any magick was there that night it did not get into the recording. The high point is the Clouds again track which sprinkles almost but is over before it gets really going. At times steffy plays at his best, but at times he is not even close to his best. All in all a disappointing record and one that you are unlikely to want to listen to in one go. sample it a track at a time and perhaps you will find a little gong magick in here somewhere. Not as awful as some Late gong recordings it isn't quite cabaret night at Berlins but its not far off.