where is the love for GONG?

The only Gong album I think that is far & away excellent is You, though I haven't heard Camembert Electrique. Also like Obsolete by Dashiell Hadeyat (has the Camembert lineup on it) and Gazeuse! though that's the post-Allen, fusion years.

I need a copy of Last Autumn's Dream if anyone has an extra. And I only bought a couple after Kites, but I know there are more. If I see them for a dollar, I will pick them up someday.

I like them loads, though there are lots of annoying stupid bits that fuck up yr mood just when you get into what they're playing. I think "Camembert Electrique" is the best one, b/c it actually sounds pretty tough/driving/lean/sparse. Agreed abt "you can't kill me", though "Fohat digs holes in space" is even better.

it's from "bambooji" on shamal

and one of the deeper elements of their "floating anarchy" wz how they refused to kowtow to the authoritarian concept of the "song" eg they'd do a good bit, then a rubbish bit, then a good bit

i don't think many of their songs are w/o a rubbish bit

Yeah, I agree. Case in point, the last Gong-related thing I listened to was Daevid Allen & The Magick Brothers Live at the Witchwood 1991. They follow-up a really tasty, acoustic version of "Why Do We Treat Ourselves Like We Do?" (strangely, in my head, I always picture Shane MacGowan/The Pogues doing this) with the excruciating "I Am My Own Roadie".

On second thought, that's not true. The last thing I listened to was Mother Gong's Eye, but that was zzzzzzzz.

I love Gong, listened to them in the 70s in college (slightly embarrassed about all the hippie imagery), forgot about them for years, then re-discovered them about '99, just before they came through L.A. on tour. The hippie stuff I now find kind of charming. Turned out the re-formed band was just as good as the 70s one, and the Zero to Infinity album is pretty good too. You is the definitive Gong album, though, if you don't like this one you don't like Gong.

the wire conducted an entertaining invisible jukebox w/ allen a cpl of years back, where he talked abt terry riley, his love of thelonious monk, prog, punk, psychedelia, releasing an alb on BYG/Acteul etc. and didn't charles hayward play in an incarnation of gong?

allen is a charmer, def, and - given the apparent pervasive fluffy dippiness - you have to admire how long he has sustained his RIGOR!!

That Flying Teapot album is one of the best jazzy/hippy/acid rock freakout albums that's out there. I love it when they just get into a groove and squonk away for ages. I wish I had seen them live but like lots of other people I turned my nose up at them for decades because of all the hippy stuff.

Haven't heard that one yet, but I love Camembert Electrique. That's the only one I actually own, but Magick Brother's not bad either.

I think I rate it above even Camembert Electrique and You, which is saying something 'cos those are great albums too.

My favourite band at age 12/13, finally got to see them in 2001, still nurse a lot of fondness. Camembert the obvious peak, Flying Teapot and Angels Egg deeply adorable, "Blues For Findlay" on the Continental Circus soundtrack the hidden gem. Hillage's incipient megalomania spoilt You, but blow me if the first post-Allen album (Shamal} didn't turn out to be great. It inhabits its own musical micro-universe.

i always feel hillage is more all over 'angels' egg than 'you'. they were pretty much my favourite band aged 13 too and i totally agree vis a vis 'blues for findlay'. so great!

you dudes must've been weird at 13.

"Magick Brother" is my fave

Gong's one of those bands I've wanted to get something by for a while. I'd always thought it would be a progression from having explored the work of two other fellow ex-Soft Machine members, Robert Wyatt and Kevin Ayers. Of course, Wyatt's and Ayers's work are quite different. And I imagine Gong's similarly unique. All the talk on here of prog rock is likely to make one run away. "One" being me.

just get magick brother and work forward, it'll be quite painless and worth the effort. it's not super-prog.

I suppose "Magick Brother" isn't really a Gong album

gong ain't prog.

My only exposure to Gong was seeing the Acid Mothers Gong show at Victoriaville this year - which is a collaboration between Gong and Acid Mothers Temple members (and this incarnation featured Yoshida Tatsuya on drums). I have to say it was a bit of a disappointment, not least because the Gong members seemed to tend to spoil whatever forward motion was generated by stopping for lengthy "spoken word" interludes about politics, Bush, terrorism, etc. I would have rather seen Acid Mothers Temple by themselves.

Too bad. Sounds like a dream ticket otherwise. Maybe this will excuse them. As one comment says this is mother fucking off the hook!!!

wow!

anyone got that david allen + euterpe 1977 cd? how is it, etc?

The Daevid Allen/Euterpe album (Good Morning) is a thing of great loveliness. Recorded in Deya, Majorca with a local band, as I recall. Some acoustic pastoral/whimsical stuff, some trippy glissando-guitar psych-out stuff, but generally a light, amiable, playful, contented feel. The title track's my favourite: episodic, seemingly unconnected fragments, but it all works as a whole in the oddest way.

thanks! i'll probably buy it... couple of tracks on history & mystery of them that are really good.

Been playing it this morning, following a happy Googling accident. Utterly charmed, all over again. It's an ideal indolent summer morning album.

The 11:30 space-rock/space-whisper "Wise Man In Your Heart" is at odds with the rest (and the only track to feature drums) but I mind that less now than I did then.

you dudes must've been weird at 13.

Agree. Was Gong the band of choice for the school intellectual elite at this time?

I think I'm a close contempoarary of m t-d, so this would have been smack in the middle of punk?

French TV appearance + interview, January 1971

Not as good as the 1972 clip linked above, this is the Allen/Smyth/Malherbe/Tritsch/Rachid Hourai line-up. Interesting for two reasons: they play "Perfect Mystery" from You, over 3 years before its release, and - quite a major shock, this - one of Malherbe's comments in the interview will be VERY familiar to anyone who knows Camembert Electrique.

No, Bob - Gong were my fave raves in 1974/75, and I came to them quite alone, via a re-issued Camembert being on sale with a rrp of 50p.

Ok thx - that makes more sense. 74/75 were desolate years at my school; I remember Genesis and Status Quo were big then, with the inner circle of alleged hip kids like myself into David Bowie.

The hip kids at my school were aware of Gong but more into Hawkwind, with a significant SAHB sub-faction. The lumpen masses were into Yes, Genesis, ELP (or "Yelpesis" as Peel dubbed them), Santana, Floyd, Oldfield and Deep Purple. Led Zep not so much. Bowie and Roxy were neither here nor there, really. Sha Na Na were oddly popular for some reason, and Tangerine Dream had a certain intellectual cachet.

like m-t-d i was intrigued by a very cheap 'camembert' in the record shop though this was a few years later for me (circa 1980) when it was on sale for £1.99 (still very cheap for the time). i didn't meet anyone else who had heard of them for another 5 or so years.

You was my gateway in the 70s, via a shortie in the CREEM back-of-the-book Rock-a-Rama section---not my usual fare, but oh my, lucky i.
BYG has reappeared on Bandcamp, where I finally heard and dug Magick Brother, also Banana Moon, which made several of my ballots---I said this on the main Wyatt thread:

Quite a few BYG albums now reissued and streaming on Bandcamp---I started with Banana Moon, because RW is in the core band with Daevid Allen and Archie Legget, ready for excellent guests. "Stoned Innocent Frankenstein" could be the title track, considering whole set's seemingly off-handed pop-rock flair through the crusty bits*, with attentive dynamics def. incl. Wyatt's drumming and harmonies.
He sings lead on "Memories," which could be a ringer, but fits with other songs' sincerity ("Get Me Outta Here," o yes), and the voice is distant, but persistent, also unmistakable, while the playing is bluesier than his otm "Rock Bottom" B-side arrangement, but sympathetically so. Here's the best audio of the B that I've heard, on Richard Sinclair's Bandcamp:
https://richardsinclairsongs.bandcamp.com/track/memories

And before I forget, here's the 2023 Banana Moon:
https://bygrecords.bandcamp.com/album/banana-moon (Gong's reissued Magick Brother is sounding pretty good on BYG BC too)

*wiki:

In 2003, David Bowie included it in a list of 25 of his favourite albums, "Confessions of a Vinyl Junkie", saying that "it's possible, just possibly maybe, that strands of the embryonic glam style started here."[7]

As for this:

I've never followed Gong very closely, but for me Hillage earned his place in music history for helping Rachid Taha put together Made in Medina. Songlines' reviewer said when he heard it, he glimpsed what Page and Plant were going for w North African musicians. Yeah, seems like this is the realization and then some, to put it mildly. Anyway, more on Made.. should prob be for another thread--what's the deal with New York Gong? The genesis of Material, right? Is the album good?

― dow, Sunday, October 14, 2012 7:11 PM (eleven years ago) bookmarkflaglink

i've grown to really like the new york gong album over the years after completely dismissing it when i first bought it but whether you'll like it or not really depends on whether or not you dig daevid allen's schtick. the laswell hook up came via the notorious jean karakos who moved his celluloid label from france to new york and had gong connections going way back. material probably took the name from the "materialism" track on it and put their first album proper out on celluloid shortly after this came out.

― stirmonster, Sunday, October 14, 2012

There is a compilation of appearances on French tv during the early 70s that I have seen crop up at the end of videos I've seen. Assume its still around though not sure when videos were upped to youtube.

I'm seeing copies of the volumes of the Gong Dreaming book going for massive prices. I did think I had heard about a reprint but not seeing copies cheap and current. Volume 2 was very good anyway.

I return to this clip of "I Never Glid Before" loads, Mike Howlett's playing especially is just so absurdly good, my wife likes to point out that Daevid has a little bit of Spin Doctors singer thing going on :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeHN_VmVfRI

they're embarking on a fairly extensive US tour soon, feel like it's gonna be good, honestly I like these new Gong records more than the old ones

I don't know about "more than", but I recently dipped my toes in with Rejoice! I'm Dead! and the Pulsing Signals live one, liked both way, way more than I expected I would.

kavus torabi works wonders

We saw Nu-Gong this year and they were sublime, strong recommend, plus all the Nu-Gong albums are great! They are very much not a tribute act, but something of the spirit persists.

Got the impression from Allen's and/or Gong site last year that he approved, maybe picked, all embarking members,though I suppose there might have been personnel changes since he died. No doubt they all have a sense of what has to be lived up to.

It was Allen's wish, if you seek out any Gong-related interview with Kavus, he explains how it went down.

Yeah, Kavus was the anointed successor and most if not all of the current line up played with Allen.

saw them yesterday, it was incredible. setlist was entirely new stuff until the end when they played a couple of old songs. the band was super tight but I gotta say the drummer in particular was amazing. judging by the chatter before and after the show I gathered most people didn't know the new lineup or any of the new material but I think they won over everyone by the end. which is cool because I don't think the new stuff sounds too much like old school Gong, it sounds way more like Knifeworld. in fact that's probably why it worked so well, they weren't trying to imitate the band of the past, they were just doing what they were good at.

got to meet Kavus after the show and he was really cool. he mentioned one of his favorite tracks was "Vilna" by Weidorje and suddenly everything made sense - THAT is what they were trying to sound like!

I don't think the new stuff sounds too much like old school Gong, it sounds way more like Knifeworld.

I checked out some of the most recent albums and this was my takeaway too. (A good thing imo! Never really been able to get into their earlier stuff.)

they only played two old tunes and come to think of it they're probably the only two that actually fit what this new band does. they also happen to be my two favorite, one of the coolest moments was them doing a long spacey ambient section which gradually morphed into an insane version of Master Builder

Holy shit, I would love to see Gong, had no clue they’re touring the Midwest. And “Master Builder” is probably my alltime favorite track of theirs.

If they're that different, should they be calling themselves Gong?

They do have Daevid's approval, in the "Gong is a spirit, not a bunch of people" sense.

David Allen's final message to the musicians of Gong:

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Daevid Allen’s Farewell Message To GongPublished on April 11, 2015By Paul Sexton
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Daevid Allen, the founder of progressive trailblazers Gong, who died of cancer, aged 77, on 13 March 2015, sent his bandmates a farewell message. The email, which has now come to light, has Allen expressing his support for the group’s current line-up and reviewing his own contribution to their history.

Allen wrote that he was delighted to know, as he prepared for his own passing, that the Gong legacy was in good hands, with current frontman Kavus Torabi, saxophonist Ian East, guitarist Fabio Golfetti, bassist Dave Sturt and drummer Cheb Nettles.

As Prog magazine reports, Allen’s cancer was detected after Gong had played in Brazil early in 2014, while they were finishing the I See You album, released that November by Snapper. The band’s co-founder, aware of his own imminent demise, was in the unusual position to write a final note to the musicians who are carrying on his tradition.

The Canterbury Scene: How Bookish Bohemians Became Prog Monty Pythons
‘Camembert Electrique’: Another Tasty Gong Classic
‘You’: Gong’s Final Transmission From Radio Gnome
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The email reads in full:

Can I just simply say that it is super clear to me that Kavus, you are the perfect fit with Dave, Ian and Fabio and that Cheb, you are the perfect fit with Kavus! I feel you are all equally on the brink of a whole new era of Gong, musically, lyrically and spiritually and that pretty much all you have each done until now has been a preparation for this time.

I want you to know I am 100% behind you with this project and I wish you huge success in every way you decide to measure that success. I am really proud of laying the foundation for the Gong tradition and have done my best to make it as multi layered, wide ranging and open ended as I possibly could so that almost anything was possible as a result.

At last I am free to let go of it so now it is up to you guys to carry it on into new unknown heights and depths far beyond anything I could ever imagine myself. Thank you for being there and going for it and may the rewards be unimaginably powerful for each!

Love and massive soulful hugs

daevid

... oops, only meant to post the email.

The Canterbury Scene: How Bookish Bohemians Became Prog Monty Pythons

If they're that different, should they be calling themselves Gong?

they also have a bit of history of this. 1971 gong bore almost no musical resemblance to 1975/6 gong.

the history they have a bit of that i like is how every few years miquette giraudy is back on-stage with them

also she and hillage have been an item for 50+ years aw

indeed! i have been hoping for a miquette giraudy solo album for around 40 years. still time!

She's so undersung, and such deep roots, life-long Pink Floyd fan and I didn't even know she was in La Vallée until recently.

i have a chance to see them both in a venue near here performing as System 7.
quite tempted to be honest.

I know Allen gave them his blessing, but, going by reports here, if they're only doing a few Allen-era songs, and are now greatly enjoyed by some listeners who didn't like Allen-era Gong, I'm inclined to stick to the older stuff, all its phases on all those records. Until I just want to hear something different, of course.

Saw them a week ago in a converted church in a tiny town in upstate New York. There were like 100 people there. They were fantastic and not at all offended that so few people were there. It felt like a really special night -- and then when we left the venue the northern lights were pumping in the sky. What a treat.

Awesome, and relatable, in my neck of the woods---I'll go see 'em if feasible, don't get me wrong---but meanwhile, got plenty Gong w Daevid to catch up on---also prowling for him w Soft Machine---not much exists, right? Or maybe he's just on some Canterbury tapes?

I don't know! But keep an eye on the Homer Center for the Arts. Tiny town but they are getting great acts and it is a really special place. Godspeed You Black Emperor was there not long ago for instance. Peace out!

dunno how many people were at the show I was at but it was probably less than 100. which was kinda awesome for us actually, I mean I was right there front and center, I could hear the scraping of the guitar strings

from what I could gather I think a lot of this is just reluctance to see a band with no original members, much less one whose newest members only go back to 2009...I mean, it's not like Yes where you at least have Steve Howe and the guy who played on Open Your Eyes. it's a tough sell. I think that's why they're touring so much, mostly just trying to get the word out, if nothing else they definitely seem to be winning over the old Gong fans

I hope these low turnouts don't make them reconsider their plan to tour the western US in 2025.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouMF2Dz0Bno

the Ex album is pretty good fun. been on my shelves for years but hadn't ever listened to it until now. daevid allen and his compatriot david tolley dicking around on drum machines and synths in 1983. getting residents vibes if they were slightly less weird (it is still plenty weird though!)

their new album came out last week. whole thing is great but check out "Mantivule"...that right there is some primo Gong shit. apparently this album and the prior two are supposed to be a trilogy as a nod to Radio Gnome...dare I say album for album these three are just as good

Co-sign. I’ve listened several times since it came out and it’s cool how they’re continuing without Allen, Hillage or anyone from the classic era of the band. It’s not aping what came before, it’s carrying on with similar space/trance/rock foundations. Way better than I expected.

Can't wait to get my hands on my copy, really dug the last two so I'm excited for this. It really is great how they've carved out their own sound while carrying on the legacy.

It's kind of like Soft Machine, who also just put out a really good new album with a lineup of all new guys and one guy who didn't join the band until their ninth(!) album. But I really love what they are doing now.

Likewise. We went to see this lineup for a second time last autumn - and again they were wonderful. Both times, the only old tune they performed was Master Builder.