Gong (& related) ~ Europe

Live in Sherwood Forest '75 (2005)

As you can probably tell, just from the few snippets below, I have something of a love / hate relationship with Gong. My introduction to the band was, in fact, Flying Teapot (mid 80s while in college). I couldn't have been more mortified. That was the exact opposite of what I was looking for at the time, as I was diving deeper into the Krautrock / European psychedelic underground. As you can see from the below review, my take on that album hasn't really changed. Over the years my views have softened considerably on albums I once loathed. And I suppose that is true with Flying Teapot too, but I still hear it as stupid. Too many of my music friends like that album, so I'll just have to take the hit on that one. To me Angel's Egg isn't much better, and that's based on somewhat recent listens. You, on the other hand, yes that's the one. I had only wished that was the album I was introduced to Gong with, as I expect I would have accumulated far more than I did. As for all of those Pierre Moerlen albums, I really need to revisit those again. That was a loooong time ago.

With that intro out of the way, let's tackle this CD. This was part of a collection buy last year that had nada prog albums, so a real outlier in the stack. This live concert comes at probably my favorite stage of Gong, as they were transforming into a serious jazz rock band. So what we have here is the confluence of three great albums: You, Steve Hillage's Fish Rising (his best IMO), and Shamal, an album I own and enjoy but remains undocumented. As such, the live recording comes across as unique, with some spirited performances and welcome deviations from the studio versions.

Ownership: 2005 MLP (CD). Booklet with two historical essays and many archival photos.

10/8/25 (acquired / review)
 

Flying Teapot (1973) 

This album is as goofy and stupid as I remember. They achieved their goal of sounding like a bunch of potheads. It's not a total loss, and there are moments of lucidity interspersed on the title track and 'Zero the Hero'. Tim Blake's short electronic contribution predicts his Crystal Machine album. But the rest you can have. I remain unconvinced this is a masterpiece. I'll take You from this era.

Source: 2019 Charly (CD)

Former ownership: 1978 Virgin (LP). Gatefold

1986 (first acquired); 7/8/24 (review)
 

You (1974)

By far and away my favorite of the Pothead Pixie era of the band. The album that Ozric Tentacles ingested whole, and distilled from there. For like 100 albums. One of those permanent 4 star albums.

Ownership: 1977 Virgin (LP)

2000 (acquired); 2/3/23 (review)

Pierre Moerlen's Gong - Leave it Open (1981)

Late in the game fusion album from one of the big names of the genre. Given the date, and other intangibles, I just presumed this would be yet another American styled fuzak album that dominated the record bins of the day. So I never bothered to hear it until now. This is anything but fuzak. Leave it Open is a very fine jazz rock album, like the kind you might hear in France during this era, with some superb gritty guitar leads from Bon Lozaga. Moerlen's tuned percussion is integral to the music, and doesn't sound gimmicky, which it often can. And you can almost never go wrong when Charlie Mariano is present on saxophone. Best of all, the songwriting is stellar, and the 17 minute track is never boring, nor does it sound like a bunch of ideas pasted together. There's a moment at the 12 to 13 minute mark that sent my hair on end. The only track here that sounded like I first expected is 'It's About Time' with its predictable funky business. And even at that, it's fairly well done and better than average. But the rest is excellent throughout. A major surprise for me. 

Interesting to note that this album was never released in the States.

Ownership: 1981 Arista Germany (LP)

8/11/16 (acquired / review)

Also own and need to review: Camembert Electrique; Shamal

Once owned and have since sold: Angel's Egg; Expresso II; Downwind; Time is the Key

8/11/16 (new entry)