Best of the Gong albums with Daevid Allen. Beneath the silliness of the lyrics Allen does convey Eastern philosophies. Mike Howlett is very underrated. Such a funky player. Didier Malherbe: the ending e is not pronounced. Gong made fun of his name which translated means "bad grass". "Shamal" is a great underrated album. Transitional between the Allen era and the Moerlen jazz era. "Camembert Electrique" is probably the next one to listen to. More raw but with Daevid Allen and ideas that introduce the trilogy. "Gazeuse" is the best Moerlen album. Fine performance by Allan Holdsworth.
Bought the vinyl in '79, expecting something like Gazeuse, saved the first listen for when my mind was 'properly altered', and OMG was I amazed. Your 'freaking out' comment was perfect, because when I heard 'cops at the door!' I nearly had a heart attack! Later, when my paranoia kicked in and I began to worry about the neighbours and what they'd think of this lunacy, I turned the volume down...then down again... down again... In my altered state, everything was still crystal clear and STILL TOO LOUD! so I went to turn my stereo down again and discovered the volume was all the way down, and only the wee bit of leakage through the aged control was playing. What an experience that was.
the transition between the babbling to a baby (which the listener is), whimsical and down to earth situation and the fairly recurrent higher space and meditative elevation always transports me Sorry for my english.
Great album, very innovative. It had a big impact on early trance music, psy trance etc. One can hear remnants of this era of gong in bands like Ozric Tentacles or Sphongle etc.
My first encounter happened to be the 1976 album "Gazeuse" with Pierre Moerlen which I still love to bits. This album is more trippy as the two albums before "You" had been too.
Brilliant musicians & musicianship. Saw them live at The Roundhouse right at the end of Allen's time & one of the things that struck me was how drummer Moerlen seemed so relaxed & easy while playing an absolute jazzy rocky blinder. Fantastic band.
I LOVE the whimsey and wit, the poetry and virtuosity, the innovation and psychedelic silliness on ALL their albums - but THIS one is unique in having so much soaring straight-up prog jam out (a la Gong), which makes it my hands-down favorite. Masterpiece. Boy, 1974 was THE year prog peaked - what electrifying transmissions. Think of it - this album, Relayer, The Lamb, Brain Salad Surgery, Starless & Bible Black AND Red, The Power and the Glory - unmatched. And oh, by the way, you should check out the album Green by Steve Hillage next - The Glorious Om Riff picks up where Master Builder left off!
Spot on. HUGE Ozric vibes from this, and yes, I know this predates Ozric by decades, but this was new to me. Ozric strikes me as being like this with less silliness, less "clown show" as Justin phrased it. Both are great, they just hit slightly differently.
In 1974, You, being the last of the trilogy....was the first one of the trilogy released here in the states. I had walked in my favorite record store late one night (a bit smoky) looking for something new, no one was in the store! What became Master Builder was blasting and I was just knocked out. So were the guys running the shop. They were all passed out on the floor behind the counter! I found another copy of the album and laid a five on the counter and closed the door behind me turning around the open to closed sign. I went back a few days later, blown away, and we had a good laugh. They told me about the trilogy... I was...."There's more!!!!:))))....."Yeah, over in the imports" So my trilogy ran a bit backwards....but after all these years later, it still makes a lot of sense and has been a wonderful path on dealing with this crazy old world.
Thank You Justin ! That was a Magnificent Ride we went on. Next Gong-Related Listen,...David Allen's 1977 Solo Album, Now is the Happiest Time of your Life. It will also be amazing.
This is a masterpiece, both for the music and for the accepting message--something that feels amazing whenever we lose our ways. 1-9 baby. Sweet absurdity.
Well I'm proud say that I did shrooms and dropped acid to Gong. NO REGRETS! And everytime I do trip on the radio Gnome trilogy, the album "You" is played as I reached the peak of my trips and WOW!!!
Nice review, cos this is a lot to absorb in one sitting. And i've always thought the same of the trilogy. For me it's 1) egg, 2) you, and 3) teapot. I'm always up for gong's whimsy, but the 3 starters here, though decent, a little sluggish and so drop this LP to 2nd place. That said, there's a mountain of great stuff here, partic Steve, and the inimitable Didier. Now re Camembert Electrique, deffo worth a listen when you're up for more Gong, fantastic album. Though, maybe weirder than this, in part. A full album review would be best, or complete sides failing that. Some tracks are only seconds long. And there is some crossover with this LP. That riff in Perfect Mystery is lifted from a CE track done years earlier. They would reuse stuff. The main riff from Master Builder was reworked/retitled by Hillage on one of his solo albums a few years after this, and is incorporated into a track on his live album, Live Herald. Another album worth a listen, and in my top 5 live albums of all time.
I rank them identically, I find that Egg is a good balance of whimsy and prog edge. I believe the track with the reworked Master Builder riff was called The Glorious Om Riff from Hillage's album Green.
@@pentagrammaton6793Aye, the 'Om' riff tune in on Green. And it does jump out at you on Live Herald, worked into another tune though not actually name checked.
Gong's new album 'Unending Ascending' is pretty good! Hawkwind, Gong, Tangerine Dream, Focus etc., are all playing 'A New Day Festival' (in Faversham, just outside Canterbury) come August 2024... Gong and Hawkwind are headlining Saturday... It'll be the first time for me going over seas.. a trip of a lifetime. * tickets are still available
@@acrookedbeat9013 Be that as it may, Daevid wanted them to continue. I suppose they are more in line with the Ozric Tentacles style now... Still, new album is a fine listen.
@@Bretthall8 i paid £35 last year to see Gong and the Ozrics there was one original member in the Ozrics Ed Wynne so wasn't that impressed , but saying that i saw the Ozrics for free back in the early mid 80's a few times
I m 54 old 1and i see gong with m'y parents in France many times . Magma too . Zappa . I m bass and multi instr player . The île off ewrywhere is my Best référence bass drum of all th e hystory music.
You might enjoy checking out Hillage's 'Green', which also employs that amazing 'Master Builder' riff and is on a par with this, which I think is the best Gong album--where their collective vision and musicianship coalesced most perfectly. 'Master Builder' and then 'Clouds' back to back...is there any further across the unverse you can go after this?
How many times did I fall to sleep with this one and Angels Egg in my headphones after smoking some green stuff. Still love them. As one of Zappa's records is namned; Does Humor Belong in Music.........Yes! and it's not much of that nowadays. Great to see you laugh at/with the music.
Pierre moerlen drummer is mad and Mike oeflett on bass arf my youngness . I scream when i ear this . Tanks to play this monster album . The île of everywhere doum doum dam dam dam dam’.doum doum’dam dam . Just octave . On pentatonique. Solo sax etc turn around . Steve hillage . My 10 years olds to my 40 youngness . Tanks man
Two amazing sides of art/space music, a continental prog-rock/jazz everything. My favorite of the Allen/Morlein cooperations. I've been waiting for your review for some time. You don't disappoint.
I'm here, JP, or rather, I was there. The planet Gong ethos is a lot to take in and, yes, substances do help. It's worth reading a bit about the 'story' as much of it flies way over anyone's head (in a Flying Teapot) but it's not meaningless nonsense and, as you identified, there's a benevolent philosophy there. Fav. track is A Sprinkling of Clouds though Master Builder is 0.1 points behind. imo, this is Gong's best album and just to reiterate what was said in the live chat, do check out the You Remixed album which is even wilder, and the Gong Live Etc version of Isle of Everywhere which surpasses the studio version, magnificent though it is.
For personal reasons I would say this album is in my top five favourite. On reflection, I seriously think this album is actually the only album that can fully compare to The Dark Side of the Moon.
That’s not Didier Malherbe’s Sax on Mother Incantation but Gilli Smyth doing her Space Whispers. I started being a fan on this album in 1974. It’s in my top 10 albums of all time.
Hooray! at last. Thank you JP. (edits alert - I'm adding more as I listen to an LP every note and sound I know like the back of my hand!) Observations: Malherbe is as always wonderful (I'm a sax player and he has been an influence but if I could play even a minute fraction as good as he I would be in heaven). Moerlen - goes without saying! I'm not really a fan of Hillage (or guitarists in general) but he was truly amazing whilst in Gong. The progression of Tim Blake is the most apparent from 'The Flying Teapot' LP with a few squiggles and one rudimentary (though lovely) solo piece to 'A Sprinkling Of Clouds' is breathtaking. 'You' is the break up of the band - the individual musicians are going off in their own directions but are (just about) kept within the gravitational pull of (the planet) Gong. Daevid Allen was seemingly less to the fore on this LP - however he has three 'song' songs but bows out with the final piece on the LP so despite the monumental largely instrumental pieces: 'Master Builder', 'A Sprinkling Of Clouds' and 'Isle Of Everywhere' he is hardly fading into the background - but he was wanting out.
Oh I forgot to mention the Japanese band Acid Mothers Temple (AMT) have also done a rendition of Master Builder to an OTT version lasting over 50 minutes long if you're interested but unfortunately a little too repetitive for me even though it is very manic. on that note check AMT out they have some cool tunes but they are very, very long.
Didier Malherbe really shines on this album. If you haven't come across his more recent work with Hadouk, you should check him out on youtube. Unique stuff.
I'm here, J.P. Accidentally hanging just over the gutter here; ear pointed at the open part of the window. I'm pretty sure the opening part is them affectionately teasing the Zeuhl cult (affectionately, because I get the impression Daevid Allen didn't "do aggressive" - and definitely didn't "do mean") so I pronounce your observations to be spot on, there. As far as influences go, I believe one thing you need to somehow find a way to understand (and it's not easy, just because of how time changes, even) is The Goon Show. I've mentioned them before. They were a radio comedy drama group, with its core being Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe, and Peter Sellers, and they influenced people like Monty Python and Daevid Allen. When he goes manic, he's pretty much channeling Millgoon. This matters for the sake of "justifying the levity" to anyone who needs to be persuaded that all that silliness is somehow justified. OK, so why should Goon madness be accepted and appreciated? I think if you put it in an historical context, you could persuade yourself (reasonably) that it contains some hidden virtues, beyond being a good generator of Pythonesque absurdities. History: Milligan and Secombe were in the same artillery regiment. They were in the firing line. They were right in the middle of the dark absurdity that is war. That's where they became entertainers (for the forces). The most natural form of comedy in the situation was light, silly absurdity (since their audiences were hypersensitive to the absurdity of this world, exposed whenever some horrible dictator steps up to spill its guts on the examining table). The worst disservice they could've done to the guys on R & R would've been to bring in too much thought, sentimentality, normal-life. They needed to come up with a distraction that didn't bring on memories of the fact that there was an ostensibly sane world they'd all left back in Blighty/ the UK. And then after the war their comedy remained popular. They were big on the radio, and eventually even did a few television shows. Kids grew up listening to it with their families (everyone gathered around the radio, together, and each in their own Theatre of the Mind). It went to all corners of the Empire, and beyond. After that it continued streaming to the Commonwealth. So summary: War = too much serious and absurd kinds of "being sensible". Natural response to that: the kind of thing that later becomes the playful side of Gong. On the one hand, children know nothing, and play silly games; on the other hand, children forget things we'd like to know again, but it's always too late. There's something sensible about the silly little nothings in the heads of children that we drive out as soon as we become fully self-conscious teenagers, and then sometimes understand the value of later. I don't think silliness is as silly as it seems. If anything it's a superior attitude that we can bring to it from our "superior state of mind" - our fully matured idiocy - that's truly ridiculous. But I put that in a mean, demeaning kind of way, which is wrong. It's the earnestness and passion driving Zeuhl people up toward the sky that's out of touch with reality, and the flippant side of Daevid that's fully Earth-planted, with roots going in from the toes, down. They're both of some value, but the earnestness gains something by having little digs taken at it, as long as they're just pokes in the ribs. And now I'm going all flowery imagining poems and _kak_ like that. :D A digestible little Goonery I've almost certainly suggested before is the little "There's Someone at the Door" sketch. Oddly enough, before coming to the computer something had made me think of a Cheech and Chong sketch I call, "It's DAVE, man!" (Also involving opening the door, but in that case the police are involved.) I was wondering whether it was Goon related, and then there comes Daevid Allen, Gooning along like the best of them. Clear evidence that the Juju is real. (And now I'm reminded of the dad of The Reluctant Cannibal, who argues with his son, "Listen, son, people always have eaten people, always will eat people. You can't change human nature. If the Juju had wanted us not to eat people, how come he made us of meat?" - which is a pretty convincing argument, isn't it? I suppose this is just because today's favourite Deity is the Juju. Next week it might be some burning bush telling a man to go and exterminate some people he's never met.) I would give you links to both those (or, alternatively, would've shut my big mouth now already, were it not for the onset of Loadshedding - rolling temporary power cuts, that have been temporarily in place for about ten years now. No electricity = no Internet - where I am, now, anyway. So there's this blank space sitting there, and time to kill. I suspect Google is going to punish me for this TL; DR, though. Damn. Can't post this; can't even go get some links. Goons: (two hours or so later ... ) th-cam.com/video/kOgsNX33byk/w-d-xo.html Cheech and Chong: (It's Dave, man ... ) knock knock knock th-cam.com/video/rtDAK7Umk7A/w-d-xo.html Actually if you want to directly hear some Daevid Allen singing (but done by the Goons), listen to the *Ying Tong Song* and you'll hear him pretty much exactly. (I think he might even be The Famous Eccles). th-cam.com/video/33-fVsL5Kdc/w-d-xo.html
Always been a fan of Gong, saw them three times in the mid 70's. The shimmering strings sound is a strat played with a thin chrome bar (often the removed whammy bar), vibrated over the strings at various fret positions, and using a volume swell and tons of echo.
A lovely, astute reaction again, Justin, thank you, and such happy memories for me of following Gong around on tour in the north of England during this period, catching them in Manchester, Liverpool and Stoke. They may have been my favourite band then, but Van Der Graaf, Magma, Crimson, Genesis, Caravan, Soft Machine and Stackridge (whom you really should listen to) were also rocking my teenage boat, not to mention Led Zep and Floyd and Wishbone… A great time to be getting into music. I’ve noticed how your face seems to light up when you hear a bit of Indian influence. Isn’t it time for you to reaction to a real Hindustani classical raga? My wife and I were at both these amazing, unforgettable concerts in Ravenna a few years ago - flute: th-cam.com/video/bIFCrhptbxk/w-d-xo.html and vocal: th-cam.com/video/uPLSOevIK-4/w-d-xo.html The flute is shorter, livelier and lighter, and might be the easier place to start, but if you are in the mood the singing is beyond sublime…
Yeaah bass pattern change at everytime of the pentatonique is finish. So fun and so hard too i take 2 3 years to play it . And after i Was a very and real bassman . Not à girl with littles fingers 😁
Definitely listen to Steve Hillage's Album Green from 1978 which does another version of Master Builder and parts of a sprinkling of clouds under the name of Activation Meditation / The Glorious Om Riff. It is absolutely awe inspiring to the very end and it will take you on a journey of excess to another dimension for just under 9 minutes. even though this is the original version I prefer this version which I actually bought and heard in 1978. There are other amazing tracks on the album, in actuality the whole album from beginning to end is a drug induced journey. I believe more electrifying and psychedelic but less quirky and jazz influenced than Gong's YOU. Try it, you will not be disappointed, seriously.
Master Builder is still played live by the current incarnation of Gong, such is it's standing with the fans. They're actually playing in London tonight, but it's at a venue with poor sound (I recently saw Animals As leaders there and wished I hadn't!), so I have reluctantly decided not to go. Personally, I think Camembert Eclectique is a little more hippy-trippy, with more weird banter (though it still has plenty of good stuff). Maybe try some Pierre Moerlen-fronted Gong next (when Daevid Allen left for a few years), for comparison. I'd suggest either Gazeuse!, which has plenty of Allan Holdsworth guitar on it, or Downwind, the title track of which has Mike Oldfield playing guitar. If you want to try some of the current Gong's catalogue, I'd start with their first outing, Rejoice! I'm Dead!
cool! i knew you like that! 🙂 by the way masterbuilder is in 3/4 and the bridge is in 4/4. the drums play in 3/4 and sometime switching to all 12 bars in 4/4 while the rest of the band still playing 3/4 3/4 3/4. 3/4 4/4 ! isley of everywhere switches between 6/8. 6/7 and 8/8 ! i have seen them a dozen times perform some shows where like 3 hours and each time i saw them i was tripin on lsd! 🙂one of my biggest love in music beside hendrix and brainticket and ............
Now you need to move on to "Shamal". After "You" Gong goes through some serious changes but it is still my second favorite of their albums behind "You". Blessings.
Skunk works you . American military base skunk works 😅 take your pick . This band makes me feel like ive had skunk without the dry green vegetable matter in my lungs.😁I'm hear jp
Flying teapot .angells eggs . You . I learn to play bass for this sound and i was the Best player in France for à moment . Try to play the isle of everywhere . If you don t tired you are a bassman 😀
I'd rather you stop the songs and talk in between them as opposed to talking OVER the tracks as it kills the mood for those of us who know the albums. Anyway, still glad you appreciated such a brilliant album!
I think that's the sixth in the trilogy. Following "You" there is "Shapeshifter", Zero to Infinity", then "2032". All have their moments, but none scale the heights reached by "Angel's Egg" and "You".
You is my least favourite of the trilogy although I still love it. I think the whimsy is not as strong and some of it is a bit messy especially the main middle section of Masterbuilder. The last two tracks really are the strongest. There's no melletron here - just some gliss guitar (check out the live version of Magdalena to see it action). I think the fourth album in the trilogy, Zero to Infinity, is stronger. Yes JP Camembert Electrique next although as preparation work on the pronunciation of French cheeses!
The best album from the 'Flying Teapot' trilogy. A glorious mix of Allen's humour, tripped out space rock, and mellifluous jazz brilliance!
Shouldn,t that be Radio Gnome Trilogy?🤔
Indeed it should. An error on my behalf! 👍
Pierre Moerlen was only 22 on this album. In 1973, he was the greatest drummer in the world. Drummer/percussionist and all round musician.
Best of the Gong albums with Daevid Allen. Beneath the silliness of the lyrics Allen does convey Eastern philosophies. Mike Howlett is very underrated. Such a funky player. Didier Malherbe: the ending e is not pronounced. Gong made fun of his name which translated means "bad grass".
"Shamal" is a great underrated album. Transitional between the Allen era and the Moerlen jazz era.
"Camembert Electrique" is probably the next one to listen to. More raw but with Daevid Allen and ideas that introduce the trilogy.
"Gazeuse" is the best Moerlen album. Fine performance by Allan Holdsworth.
PHP's advice = pothead pixie's advice
the musicianship of gong is astounding
Been with Gong since Camembert Eleqtrique... But you is my favourite. The album is pure magic!
Bought the vinyl in '79, expecting something like Gazeuse, saved the first listen for when my mind was 'properly altered', and OMG was I amazed. Your 'freaking out' comment was perfect, because when I heard 'cops at the door!' I nearly had a heart attack! Later, when my paranoia kicked in and I began to worry about the neighbours and what they'd think of this lunacy, I turned the volume down...then down again... down again... In my altered state, everything was still crystal clear and STILL TOO LOUD! so I went to turn my stereo down again and discovered the volume was all the way down, and only the wee bit of leakage through the aged control was playing. What an experience that was.
‘cops at the door, no cops at the door’
😂👍
You NEED to do Steve Hillage's GREEN. A space rock classic and produced by Floyd's Nick Mason to boot!
Yes Green is lovely. A lot of Hillage's solo stuff is good, but Green is a highlight!
@@chefren77Some tasty drumming on that album!
yes totally agree with you , bit of Tim Blake too
How about Solar Music Suite on Fish Rising? Absolute masterpiece!
Incredibly exited for this! This might be my personal favorite in Gongs discography.
the transition between the babbling to a baby (which the listener is), whimsical and down to earth situation and the fairly recurrent higher space and meditative elevation always transports me
Sorry for my english.
around 35 years ago I would come home drunk from the pub and put this on with head phones and fall asleep to it.
Great album, very innovative. It had a big impact on early trance music, psy trance etc. One can hear remnants of this era of gong in bands like Ozric Tentacles or Sphongle etc.
remnants ? Ozrics totally emulated this album lol and yes shpongle carries the lineage from gong , hillage , blake , here and now , ozrics !
My first encounter happened to be the 1976 album "Gazeuse" with Pierre Moerlen which I still love to bits. This album is more trippy as the two albums before "You" had been too.
Brilliant musicians & musicianship. Saw them live at The Roundhouse right at the end of Allen's time & one of the things that struck me was how drummer Moerlen seemed so relaxed & easy while playing an absolute jazzy rocky blinder. Fantastic band.
Finally! Gong's best strike of the gong. Blessings.
Master Builder is freaking amazing
Ilistened to that album in my teens...lots of L,S.D. listening now... with no L.S.D. it's still a surpisingly current sounding.
I LOVE the whimsey and wit, the poetry and virtuosity, the innovation and psychedelic silliness on ALL their albums - but THIS one is unique in having so much soaring straight-up prog jam out (a la Gong), which makes it my hands-down favorite. Masterpiece. Boy, 1974 was THE year prog peaked - what electrifying transmissions. Think of it - this album, Relayer, The Lamb, Brain Salad Surgery, Starless & Bible Black AND Red, The Power and the Glory - unmatched. And oh, by the way, you should check out the album Green by Steve Hillage next - The Glorious Om Riff picks up where Master Builder left off!
1974 PFM - the world became the world | Queen II
Superb music and concept. Never tire of this album.
The flute harmony on thoughts for naught is so beautiful🥲
amazing album...check Ozric Tentacles too
Spot on. HUGE Ozric vibes from this, and yes, I know this predates Ozric by decades, but this was new to me. Ozric strikes me as being like this with less silliness, less "clown show" as Justin phrased it. Both are great, they just hit slightly differently.
In 1974, You, being the last of the trilogy....was the first one of the trilogy released here in the states. I had walked in my favorite record store late one night (a bit smoky) looking for something new, no one was in the store! What became Master Builder was blasting and I was just knocked out. So were the guys running the shop. They were all passed out on the floor behind the counter! I found another copy of the album and laid a five on the counter and closed the door behind me turning around the open to closed sign. I went back a few days later, blown away, and we had a good laugh. They told me about the trilogy... I was...."There's more!!!!:))))....."Yeah, over in the imports" So my trilogy ran a bit backwards....but after all these years later, it still makes a lot of sense and has been a wonderful path on dealing with this crazy old world.
Oh, great job with the trilogy! I really enjoyed your reactions and comments.
Thank You Justin ! That was a Magnificent Ride we went on. Next Gong-Related Listen,...David Allen's 1977 Solo Album, Now is the Happiest Time of your Life. It will also be amazing.
Please do Hillage's album, Green. A brilliant version of Master Builder awaits you (with sax by Hawkwind's Nik Turner).
Seen them live!... Lovable atmosphere, entertaining mushroom, spaced out jazz rock! And no freak out! Great musicianship!
Now you're here and now you're gong --- -----
Amazing trip.
This is a masterpiece, both for the music and for the accepting message--something that feels amazing whenever we lose our ways. 1-9 baby. Sweet absurdity.
Bought this in 74 - excellent
Pass the magic nushrooms !🤩🍄
Absolutely integral! 😜
Well I'm proud say that I did shrooms and dropped acid to Gong. NO REGRETS! And everytime I do trip on the radio Gnome trilogy, the album "You" is played as I reached the peak of my trips and WOW!!!
Oh yes.. or a juicy blotter 😊
Along with the early Berlin Scene electro, Master Builder is the missing ingredient in the eventual creation of rave/trance music.
Huh? I thought that was more "A Sprinkling in the Clouds"
Nice review, cos this is a lot to absorb in one sitting. And i've always thought the same of the trilogy. For me it's 1) egg, 2) you, and 3) teapot. I'm always up for gong's whimsy, but the 3 starters here, though decent, a little sluggish and so drop this LP to 2nd place. That said, there's a mountain of great stuff here, partic Steve, and the inimitable Didier. Now re Camembert Electrique, deffo worth a listen when you're up for more Gong, fantastic album. Though, maybe weirder than this, in part. A full album review would be best, or complete sides failing that. Some tracks are only seconds long.
And there is some crossover with this LP. That riff in Perfect Mystery is lifted from a CE track done years earlier. They would reuse stuff. The main riff from Master Builder was reworked/retitled by Hillage on one of his solo albums a few years after this, and is incorporated into a track on his live album, Live Herald. Another album worth a listen, and in my top 5 live albums of all time.
I rank them identically, I find that Egg is a good balance of whimsy and prog edge. I believe the track with the reworked Master Builder riff was called The Glorious Om Riff from Hillage's album Green.
@@pentagrammaton6793Aye, the 'Om' riff tune in on Green. And it does jump out at you on Live Herald, worked into another tune though not actually name checked.
I remember introducing this album to a friend when we were 16, the same shock, the same trip, a pleasure. Thank you I didn't know bass communion!!!
It's funny, but I can listen to GONG any time, I can't really say that about any other band. They are always on my playlist, have been for many years.
Gong's new album 'Unending Ascending' is pretty good!
Hawkwind, Gong, Tangerine Dream, Focus etc., are all playing 'A New Day Festival' (in Faversham, just outside Canterbury) come August 2024...
Gong and Hawkwind are headlining Saturday...
It'll be the first time for me going over seas.. a trip of a lifetime.
* tickets are still available
Sounds like a lovely time!
to be fair Gong these days are just a tribute band
@@acrookedbeat9013 Be that as it may, Daevid wanted them to continue.
I suppose they are more in line with the Ozric Tentacles style now... Still, new album is a fine listen.
@@Bretthall8 i paid £35 last year to see Gong and the Ozrics there was one original member in the Ozrics Ed Wynne so wasn't that impressed , but saying that i saw the Ozrics for free back in the early mid 80's a few times
Masterpiece . Beautiful album . Powerful .
I m 54 old 1and i see gong with m'y parents in France many times . Magma too . Zappa . I m bass and multi instr player . The île off ewrywhere is my Best référence bass drum of all th e hystory music.
MASTERPIECE
Isle of Everywhere is a masterpiece.
Surely, Steven Wilson drew some inspiration from this in PT's Moonloop era improvisations.
You might enjoy checking out Hillage's 'Green', which also employs that amazing 'Master Builder' riff and is on a par with this, which I think is the best Gong album--where their collective vision and musicianship coalesced most perfectly. 'Master Builder' and then 'Clouds' back to back...is there any further across the unverse you can go after this?
How many times did I fall to sleep with this one and Angels Egg in my headphones after smoking some green stuff. Still love them. As one of Zappa's records is namned; Does Humor Belong in Music.........Yes! and it's not much of that nowadays. Great to see you laugh at/with the music.
Pierre moerlen drummer is mad and Mike oeflett on bass arf my youngness . I scream when i ear this . Tanks to play this monster album . The île of everywhere doum doum dam dam dam dam’.doum doum’dam dam . Just octave . On pentatonique. Solo sax etc turn around . Steve hillage . My 10 years olds to my 40 youngness . Tanks man
Two amazing sides of art/space music, a continental prog-rock/jazz everything. My favorite of the Allen/Morlein cooperations. I've been waiting for your review for some time. You don't disappoint.
I'm here, JP, or rather, I was there. The planet Gong ethos is a lot to take in and, yes, substances do help. It's worth reading a bit about the 'story' as much of it flies way over anyone's head (in a Flying Teapot) but it's not meaningless nonsense and, as you identified, there's a benevolent philosophy there. Fav. track is A Sprinkling of Clouds though Master Builder is 0.1 points behind. imo, this is Gong's best album and just to reiterate what was said in the live chat, do check out the You Remixed album which is even wilder, and the Gong Live Etc version of Isle of Everywhere which surpasses the studio version, magnificent though it is.
I.m here JP. I've always been here. I've been here since i bought this album and fell in love in 1974.
"You, you, you're good at this"! I don't have to Analyze This, it's just a Hitman! Can't go wrong with the Gong! Peace & Love
For personal reasons I would say this album is in my top five favourite. On reflection, I seriously think this album is actually the only album that can fully compare to The Dark Side of the Moon.
I'm just now really listening to Gong, but of the 3 recordings in the Radio Gnome Trilogy I'm leaning toward Angel's Egg as my favorite, with You 2nd.
That’s not Didier Malherbe’s Sax on Mother Incantation but Gilli Smyth doing her Space Whispers. I started being a fan on this album in 1974. It’s in my top 10 albums of all time.
The turn around bass flying teapot is hum .so funny
Hooray! at last. Thank you JP. (edits alert - I'm adding more as I listen to an LP every note and sound I know like the back of my hand!) Observations: Malherbe is as always wonderful (I'm a sax player and he has been an influence but if I could play even a minute fraction as good as he I would be in heaven). Moerlen - goes without saying! I'm not really a fan of Hillage (or guitarists in general) but he was truly amazing whilst in Gong. The progression of Tim Blake is the most apparent from 'The Flying Teapot' LP with a few squiggles and one rudimentary (though lovely) solo piece to 'A Sprinkling Of Clouds' is breathtaking. 'You' is the break up of the band - the individual musicians are going off in their own directions but are (just about) kept within the gravitational pull of (the planet) Gong. Daevid Allen was seemingly less to the fore on this LP - however he has three 'song' songs but bows out with the final piece on the LP so despite the monumental largely instrumental pieces: 'Master Builder', 'A Sprinkling Of Clouds' and 'Isle Of Everywhere' he is hardly fading into the background - but he was wanting out.
Daevid allen is doing most of the guitar and glissando here!! I guess hillage is the household name of gong sales?
Oh I forgot to mention the Japanese band Acid Mothers Temple (AMT) have also done a rendition of Master Builder to an OTT version lasting over 50 minutes long if you're interested but unfortunately a little too repetitive for me even though it is very manic. on that note check AMT out they have some cool tunes but they are very, very long.
Daevid Allen - Now is the Happiest time of your life
Didier Malherbe really shines on this album. If you haven't come across his more recent work with Hadouk, you should check him out on youtube. Unique stuff.
David Allen is an artist . He is alive Steve hillage too they play the same music at time .the lives are very goods
Good review. Have a soft spot for the new wave era New York Gong album though doubt many Gong fans would too.
I'm here, J.P.
Accidentally hanging just over the gutter here; ear pointed at the open part of the window.
I'm pretty sure the opening part is them affectionately teasing the Zeuhl cult (affectionately, because I get the impression Daevid Allen didn't "do aggressive" - and definitely didn't "do mean") so I pronounce your observations to be spot on, there.
As far as influences go, I believe one thing you need to somehow find a way to understand (and it's not easy, just because of how time changes, even) is The Goon Show. I've mentioned them before. They were a radio comedy drama group, with its core being Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe, and Peter Sellers, and they influenced people like Monty Python and Daevid Allen. When he goes manic, he's pretty much channeling Millgoon.
This matters for the sake of "justifying the levity" to anyone who needs to be persuaded that all that silliness is somehow justified.
OK, so why should Goon madness be accepted and appreciated? I think if you put it in an historical context, you could persuade yourself (reasonably) that it contains some hidden virtues, beyond being a good generator of Pythonesque absurdities. History: Milligan and Secombe were in the same artillery regiment. They were in the firing line. They were right in the middle of the dark absurdity that is war. That's where they became entertainers (for the forces). The most natural form of comedy in the situation was light, silly absurdity (since their audiences were hypersensitive to the absurdity of this world, exposed whenever some horrible dictator steps up to spill its guts on the examining table). The worst disservice they could've done to the guys on R & R would've been to bring in too much thought, sentimentality, normal-life. They needed to come up with a distraction that didn't bring on memories of the fact that there was an ostensibly sane world they'd all left back in Blighty/ the UK.
And then after the war their comedy remained popular. They were big on the radio, and eventually even did a few television shows. Kids grew up listening to it with their families (everyone gathered around the radio, together, and each in their own Theatre of the Mind). It went to all corners of the Empire, and beyond. After that it continued streaming to the Commonwealth.
So summary: War = too much serious and absurd kinds of "being sensible". Natural response to that: the kind of thing that later becomes the playful side of Gong.
On the one hand, children know nothing, and play silly games; on the other hand, children forget things we'd like to know again, but it's always too late. There's something sensible about the silly little nothings in the heads of children that we drive out as soon as we become fully self-conscious teenagers, and then sometimes understand the value of later. I don't think silliness is as silly as it seems. If anything it's a superior attitude that we can bring to it from our "superior state of mind" - our fully matured idiocy - that's truly ridiculous. But I put that in a mean, demeaning kind of way, which is wrong. It's the earnestness and passion driving Zeuhl people up toward the sky that's out of touch with reality, and the flippant side of Daevid that's fully Earth-planted, with roots going in from the toes, down. They're both of some value, but the earnestness gains something by having little digs taken at it, as long as they're just pokes in the ribs.
And now I'm going all flowery imagining poems and _kak_ like that. :D
A digestible little Goonery I've almost certainly suggested before is the little "There's Someone at the Door" sketch. Oddly enough, before coming to the computer something had made me think of a Cheech and Chong sketch I call, "It's DAVE, man!" (Also involving opening the door, but in that case the police are involved.) I was wondering whether it was Goon related, and then there comes Daevid Allen, Gooning along like the best of them. Clear evidence that the Juju is real.
(And now I'm reminded of the dad of The Reluctant Cannibal, who argues with his son, "Listen, son, people always have eaten people, always will eat people. You can't change human nature. If the Juju had wanted us not to eat people, how come he made us of meat?" - which is a pretty convincing argument, isn't it? I suppose this is just because today's favourite Deity is the Juju. Next week it might be some burning bush telling a man to go and exterminate some people he's never met.)
I would give you links to both those (or, alternatively, would've shut my big mouth now already, were it not for the onset of Loadshedding - rolling temporary power cuts, that have been temporarily in place for about ten years now. No electricity = no Internet - where I am, now, anyway. So there's this blank space sitting there, and time to kill.
I suspect Google is going to punish me for this TL; DR, though.
Damn. Can't post this; can't even go get some links.
Goons: (two hours or so later ... ) th-cam.com/video/kOgsNX33byk/w-d-xo.html
Cheech and Chong: (It's Dave, man ... ) knock knock knock th-cam.com/video/rtDAK7Umk7A/w-d-xo.html
Actually if you want to directly hear some Daevid Allen singing (but done by the Goons), listen to the *Ying Tong Song* and you'll hear him pretty much exactly. (I think he might even be The Famous Eccles). th-cam.com/video/33-fVsL5Kdc/w-d-xo.html
Always been a fan of Gong, saw them three times in the mid 70's. The shimmering strings sound is a strat played with a thin chrome bar (often the removed whammy bar), vibrated over the strings at various fret positions, and using a volume swell and tons of echo.
in the 70's it could be surgical tweezers (I asked Allen in person)
Oh, I'm here alright!
Ty! Glad you're enjoying Martin!
A lovely, astute reaction again, Justin, thank you, and such happy memories for me of following Gong around on tour in the north of England during this period, catching them in Manchester, Liverpool and Stoke. They may have been my favourite band then, but Van Der Graaf, Magma, Crimson, Genesis, Caravan, Soft Machine and Stackridge (whom you really should listen to) were also rocking my teenage boat, not to mention Led Zep and Floyd and Wishbone… A great time to be getting into music. I’ve noticed how your face seems to light up when you hear a bit of Indian influence. Isn’t it time for you to reaction to a real Hindustani classical raga? My wife and I were at both these amazing, unforgettable concerts in Ravenna a few years ago - flute: th-cam.com/video/bIFCrhptbxk/w-d-xo.html and vocal: th-cam.com/video/uPLSOevIK-4/w-d-xo.html The flute is shorter, livelier and lighter, and might be the easier place to start, but if you are in the mood the singing is beyond sublime…
Yeaah bass pattern change at everytime of the pentatonique is finish. So fun and so hard too i take 2 3 years to play it . And after i Was a very and real bassman . Not à girl with littles fingers 😁
Steve hillage based his song the glorious ohm riff from the gong track master builder on his GREEN album
and then the Ozrics carried the riff on
Definitely listen to Steve Hillage's Album Green from 1978 which does another version of Master Builder and parts of a sprinkling of clouds under the name of Activation Meditation / The Glorious Om Riff. It is absolutely awe inspiring to the very end and it will take you on a journey of excess to another dimension for just under 9 minutes. even though this is the original version I prefer this version which I actually bought and heard in 1978. There are other amazing tracks on the album, in actuality the whole album from beginning to end is a drug induced journey. I believe more electrifying and psychedelic but less quirky and jazz influenced than Gong's YOU. Try it, you will not be disappointed, seriously.
Master Builder is still played live by the current incarnation of Gong, such is it's standing with the fans. They're actually playing in London tonight, but it's at a venue with poor sound (I recently saw Animals As leaders there and wished I hadn't!), so I have reluctantly decided not to go. Personally, I think Camembert Eclectique is a little more hippy-trippy, with more weird banter (though it still has plenty of good stuff). Maybe try some Pierre Moerlen-fronted Gong next (when Daevid Allen left for a few years), for comparison. I'd suggest either Gazeuse!, which has plenty of Allan Holdsworth guitar on it, or Downwind, the title track of which has Mike Oldfield playing guitar. If you want to try some of the current Gong's catalogue, I'd start with their first outing, Rejoice! I'm Dead!
Gilli is on vocals and space whispering
Well, now I'm here, JP. really impressive album and fun reaction with you.
Ty Murdock!
cool! i knew you like that! 🙂 by the way masterbuilder is in 3/4 and the bridge is in 4/4. the drums play in 3/4 and sometime switching to all 12 bars in 4/4 while the rest of the band still playing 3/4 3/4 3/4. 3/4 4/4 ! isley of everywhere switches between 6/8. 6/7 and 8/8 ! i have seen them a dozen times perform some shows where like 3 hours and each time i saw them i was tripin on lsd! 🙂one of my biggest love in music beside hendrix and brainticket and ............
Now you need to move on to "Shamal". After "You" Gong goes through some serious changes but it is still my second favorite of their albums behind "You". Blessings.
Skunk works you . American military base skunk works 😅 take your pick . This band makes me feel like ive had skunk without the dry green vegetable matter in my lungs.😁I'm hear jp
You should just move right on and listen to “Shamal” next. This album both concludes the trilogy and begins a run of truly great albums.
Yes definitely play Shamal. Steve Hillage returns as guest. No Daevid Allen or Gilli Smyth and Pierre is on fire 🔥
Flying teapot .angells eggs . You . I learn to play bass for this sound and i was the Best player in France for à moment . Try to play the isle of everywhere . If you don t tired you are a bassman 😀
Strong Syd Barrett vibes. It like the Syd Barrett album he never actually made. Maybe it’s the psychedelic childrens songs thing.
I hope you react to Gong live at Hyde Park 1974 which I have playlist on my channel of every song perfomed there in chronological order! :)
I'd rather you stop the songs and talk in between them as opposed to talking OVER the tracks as it kills the mood for those of us who know the albums. Anyway, still glad you appreciated such a brilliant album!
There is a fourth album in the trilogy 2032 which is well worth a listen
Fourth album in the trilogy?
I think that's the sixth in the trilogy. Following "You" there is "Shapeshifter", Zero to Infinity", then "2032". All have their moments, but none scale the heights reached by "Angel's Egg" and "You".
Check out the single little people blues by movie legend Joe pesci and Frank vincent
You is my least favourite of the trilogy although I still love it. I think the whimsy is not as strong and some of it is a bit messy especially the main middle section of Masterbuilder. The last two tracks really are the strongest. There's no melletron here - just some gliss guitar (check out the live version of Magdalena to see it action). I think the fourth album in the trilogy, Zero to Infinity, is stronger. Yes JP Camembert Electrique next although as preparation work on the pronunciation of French cheeses!
And it's "Mal Herb" (Pronounced). :)
Such a great record!
The origin of space rock and trance music!
Smoke à poke man 😁
A PHP = A Pot Head Pixie
Pierre Moerlin's drumming is amazing on this album. Later iterations were never as good.
Please try Steve Hillage's Fish Rising. It's even better than this one, in my opinion.
Ty Miguel! Here's the reaction for that🙃 Steve Hillage- Fish Rising (Album Listen): th-cam.com/play/PLk5U1pT6RIR14yxNQKBAKOMGvn2LpFx3j.html
@@JustJP damn you're quick.
@@miguelbranquinho7235 haha occasionally 😅 hope youre having a great day 🔆
@@JustJPJust watched The Thing, so yah.
My least favourite of the Flying Teapot trilogy - but still fairly good!
A P.H.P. = A Pot Head Pixie
I was watching up until you started side 2.
Still here at the end!
I scream when you put the île off everywhere than man 🥲
Jp Maythesunglissuwell 🪬🪬