Record Reviews

GONG ~ EXPRESSO II VIRGIN 2099 (Barcode: 777787237218) ~ UK ~ Canterbury Scene Recorded: 1978 Released: 1989 By the time this album was recorded, GongFind albums by this artist were a Jazz / Rock Fusion band led by drummer Pierre MoerlenFind albums by this artist, featuring some of the best instrumentalist available, such as the legendary guitar player Allan HoldsworthFind albums by this artist and violin player Darryl WayFind albums by this artist (Curved AirFind albums by this artist). Some great improvisations and real Fusion atmosphere.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

GONG ~ GAZEUSE! VIRGIN 2074 (Barcode: 077778723820) ~ UK ~ Canterbury Scene Recorded: 1976 Released: 1989 Also known as `Expresso` (hence Expresso II), this album was recorded by the 2nd version of GongFind albums by this artist, led by Pierre MoerlenFind albums by this artist. It was a Jazz-Rock Fusion group which had very little to do with the original group, but nevertheless was an excellent ensemble with some brilliant players, especially Allan HoldsworthFind albums by this artist on guitar, who delivers here some mighty contributions and Mino CinelouFind albums by this artist on percussions.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

GONG ~ IN THE 70`S VOICEPRINT 406 (Barcode: 604388325726) ~ UK ~ Canterbury Scene Recorded: 1973 - 1975 Released: 2006 New treasures from the GongFind albums by this artist archives! Previously unreleased live and rehearsal recordings of this great band are presented here in more than decent sound quality, which makes this a true bliss for the numerous fans of the band (myself included). The exact dates of the recordings are sketchy at best, but Daevid AllenFind albums by this artist’s liner notes shed some light on the contents: The majority of the tracks come from the jazzy version of the band with Steve HillageFind albums by this artist on guitar, Didier MalherbeFind albums by this artist on sax and Pierre MoerlenFind albums by this artist on drums. This almost fusion sounding band (recorded shortly before Hillage’s debut solo album Fish RisingFind albums with this title was made) really cooks! The rest of the tracks present the band around the time of Camembert ElectriqueFind albums with this title (with the great Pip PyleFind albums by this artist on drums) and around the time of Angel`s EggFind albums by this artist. All the music is of course quite brilliant and so uniquely Gong that I can hardly imagine that anybody who loves this band would like to miss this. Essential for all eggheads!

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

GONG ~ SHAMAL VIRGIN 2046 (Barcode: 077778724322) ~ UK ~ Canterbury Scene Recorded: 1975 Released: 1989 This 1975 albums marks the transitional period of GongFind albums by this artist, after Daevid AllenFind albums by this artist left the band, towards the second incarnation of Gong led by Pierre MoerlenFind albums by this artist, which was much more jazz oriented then the original psychedelic / experimental direction. Excellent playing by all members, with Didier Malherbe on reeds and Steve HillageFind albums by this artist on guitar (on 2 tracks only).

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

PIERRE MOERLEN / GONG ~ DOWNWIND ESOTERIC 2235 (Barcode: 5013929733527) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1979 Released: 2010 This is the 1st album by the band GongFind albums by this artist released on the AristaFind albums on this label label, which has musically almost nothing to do with the original band of the same name, after it was turned into a Jazz-Rock outfit by the then leader of the band, the French drummer Pierre MoerlenFind albums by this artist. Nevertheless, this incarnation of the band played some excellent music and was an important representative of the European Fusion movement and featured often some of the best players, mostly British and French ones. This album features such excellent players as violinist Didier LockwoodFind albums by this artist, guitarists Mike OldfieldFind albums by this artist and Mick TaylorFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Didier MalherbeFind albums by this artist, bassist Hansford RoweFind albums by this artist and many others. The music is quite excellent all way through and any Prog / Fusion fan should have a field day with this stuff, which remains vital and challenging many years later. Warmly recommended!

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

PIERRE MOERLEN / GONG ~ FULL CIRCLE - LIVE 1988 MUSEA 4386 (Barcode: 3426300043863) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1988 Released: 2001 Drummer Pierre MoerlenFind albums by this artist kept the name (and spirit) of GongFind albums by this artist alive for many years, leading a permanently changing lineup of mostly Fusion oriented musicians. Starting in the mid-1970s, Gong under his leadership kept the original name and later (in the 1980s) the name of the band changed to Pierre Moerlen’s Gong, to avoid confusion with other parallel Gong-related projects led by other ex-Gong members. This version of the band played almost exclusively instrumental Jazz / Rock Fusion, which had almost nothing to do with the psychedelic direction of the original band. The various European musicians, who passed through the band’s ranks, were all excellent players and Moerlen’s compositions were ideal vehicles for lengthy improvisations. This particular version of the band emphasized the vibes as the leading instruments with two vibraphonists in the lead. The sound of the live recording (originally a cassette recording) is surprisingly clear and the music spirited and very exciting. Lost for many years, it surfaced again many years after the original concert, for all of us to admire and cherish. Most enjoyable Fusion experience.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

PIERRE MOERLEN / GONG ~ LEAVE IT OPEN ESOTERIC 2250 (Barcode: 5013929735026) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1980 Released: 2011 This is the 4th and last album by the band GongFind albums by this artist released on the AristaFind albums on this label label, which has musically almost nothing to do with the original band of the same name, after it was turned into a Jazz-Rock outfit by the then leader of the band, the French drummer Pierre MoerlenFind albums by this artist. Nevertheless, this incarnation of the band played some excellent music and was an important representative of the European Fusion movement and featured often some of the best players, mostly British and French ones. This album features such excellent players as vibraphonist Francois CausseFind albums by this artist, guitarists Bon LozagaFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Charlie MarianoFind albums by this artist, bassist Hansford RoweFind albums by this artist and many others. The music is quite excellent all way through and any Prog / Fusion fan should have a field day with this stuff, which remains vital and challenging many years later. Warmly recommended!

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

PIERRE MOERLEN / GONG ~ LIVE ESOTERIC 2251 (Barcode: 5013929735125) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1979 Released: 2011 This is the 3rd album by the band GongFind albums by this artist released on the AristaFind albums on this label label, which has musically almost nothing to do with the original band of the same name, after it was turned into a Jazz-Rock outfit by the then leader of the band, the French drummer Pierre MoerlenFind albums by this artist. Nevertheless, this incarnation of the band played some excellent music and was an important representative of the European Fusion movement and featured often some of the best players, mostly British and French ones. This album features such excellent players as vibraphonist Benoit MoerlenFind albums by this artist (Pierre´s brother), guitarists Bon LozagaFind albums by this artist, saxophonist Didier MalherbeFind albums by this artist, bassist Hansford RoweFind albums by this artist and many others. The music is quite excellent all way through and any Prog / Fusion fan should have a field day with this stuff, which remains vital and challenging many years later. Warmly recommended!

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

PIERRE MOERLEN / GONG ~ TIME IS THE KEY ESOTERIC 2236 (Barcode: 5013929733626) ~ FRANCE ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1979 Released: 2010 This is the 2nd album by the band GongFind albums by this artist released on the AristaFind albums on this label label, which has musically almost nothing to do with the original band of the same name, after it was turned into a Jazz-Rock outfit by the then leader of the band, the French drummer Pierre MoerlenFind albums by this artist. Nevertheless, this incarnation of the band played some excellent music and was an important representative of the European Fusion movement and featured often some of the best players, mostly British and French ones. This album features such excellent players as keyboardist Peter LemerFind albums by this artist, bassist Hansford RoweFind albums by this artist and many others. The music is quite excellent all way through and any Prog / Fusion fan should have a field day with this stuff, which remains vital and challenging many years later. Warmly recommended!

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend

PEKKA POHJOLA ~ THE MATHEMATICIAN`S AIR DISPLAY ESOTERIC 2177 (Barcode: 5013929727724) ~ FINLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1976 Released: 2010 3rd album by Finnish bassist / composer Pekka PohjolaFind albums by this artist, one of the greatest Prog musicians of all times, who was a founding member of the legendary Finnish Prog band WigwamFind albums by this artist. Accompanied by the top European Jazz and Prog players of the time: Swedish guitarist Georg WadeniusFind albums by this artist, Polish keyboardist Wlodek GulkowskiFind albums by this artist, French drummer Pierre MoerlenFind albums by this artist, Finnish drummer Vesa AaltonenFind albums by this artist and of course British guitarist Mike OldfieldFind albums by this artist and his sister singer Sally OldfieldFind albums by this artist, the band performs music composed by Pohjola, which stylistically moves between Prog and Jazz-Rock Fusion. Pohjola´s extraordinary talent, both as a bassist and especially as a composer, were already magnificent at the time and would accompany him throughout his entire life, resulting in magnificent achievements, cut short only by his premature and tragic death in 2008. In retrospect this early effort is a milestone for European Prog and firmly establishes the superb Finnish contribution to the genre. This album was one of the very few Finnish albums to be released also in UK (on the VirginFind albums on this label label), shortly after it was released in his home country on the legendary LoveFind albums on this label label. Absolutely essential!

CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend