Gong

For those of a certain history a simple mention (whisper) of GONG will elicit a frisson of delight tempered with a concern as to which Gong is rearing its head – no worries here as Daevid Allen is back together with Steve Hillage for the first time since 1974 and they are joined by the impish Miquette Giraudy, Gilli Smyth, Mike Howlett, Chris Taylor and Theo Travis – Didier Malherbe even appears at some points.

Gong were always about Psychedelic folk and electronica but the years since their pinnacle have brought in more Prog influences along with punk and even some rapping but the sound is still unerringly Gong – and all the better for it.

From the electronic whimsy of ‘City of Self Fascination’ or the trippy silliness of ‘Digital Girl’ they suddenly go deep with ‘Yoni Poem’ which segues into ‘Dance With the Pixies’. This is classic Gong, taking itself desperately seriously while treating all the music with the lightness and skittishness imaginable – “I will always spike my tea with Pixies hee hee hee” and then a Scottish violin reel.
The band still jam like lunatics and the extended nature of songs like 'Wacky Baccy Banker' take in all of the different flavours of Gong in one number.

Gong have always obeyed their own internal sensibilities and your job as a listener is to grab hold and simply try to ride with them.

This will appeal to fans of Hawkwind and Radio Gnome rather than the jazz-rock leanings of Pierre Moerlen and the live feeling that runs all through this album add to the ‘unscripted’ nature of Gong at their best.