SHAMAL

Gong

Canterbury Scene

3.81 | 419 ratings

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snobb
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator

Shamal is first Gong album without Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth and almost without Steve Hillage. Recorded right after You ( and after the end of great Gong Trilogy), it is change in direction.

Instead of Allen's Gong psychedelic Canterbury sound you will find there some transitional music. Psychedelia ( both with Allen and Gilli vocals and Hillage guitar) is almost gone, but jazz-rock is filling it's place. Whenever the musicians generally are all great, instrumental part of album sounds very competent. Main problem is Howlett vocals, which isn't good, and doesn't fit at all.

Another problem is that the album is unfocused: some separate music pieces are great, but they all are just placed in the bag without any idea or direction. Still not real jazz fusion of later Gong, the music is more early jazz-rock with plenty of pleasant and interesting moments.

All in all, that album is not bad at all, but plays some transition role by the way to non-Allen Gong. Instrumental pieces are from interesting to great. And all album isn't boring at all because it is different enough.

Must have for every Gong fan.Strong 3,5.

snobb | 4/5 | 2009-11-20

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