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David_D View Drop Down
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Points: 15133 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote David_D Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 27 2023 at 16:40

Shamal from 1975 is a good place to start if being happy with more mainstream oriented and yet exotic Jazz-Rock.
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Oh, man. Those ratings were from ages ago, it certainly evoked some nostalgia looking through them again, thanks for that.😁
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I think the key to fully appreciating the band you have to understand the mythology they've concocted which was integral to their early material -- especially You, Angel's Egg, and Flying Teapot. We're talking about Octave Doctors, Radio Gnome's, Pothead Pixies, Orgone Accumulators, The Invisible Opera Company of Tibet, the Gong Power Symbol, and all kinds of other fantastic (literally) entities. Their lyrics directly relate. You cannot separate their music (at least during that early period) from their underlying mythology.

I have a 32-page booklet written by Daevid Allen in 1979 which he handed out at concerts. I'll try to scan it and put it online if there's any interest.
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Points: 35913 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Logan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 28 2023 at 07:06
^ I most definitely would like to read that. And very interesting observations.

Edited by Logan - September 28 2023 at 07:06
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Originally posted by wiz_d_kidd wiz_d_kidd wrote:

I think the key to fully appreciating the band you have to understand the mythology they've concocted which was integral to their early material -- especially You, Angel's Egg, and Flying Teapot. We're talking about Octave Doctors, Radio Gnome's, Pothead Pixies, Orgone Accumulators, The Invisible Opera Company of Tibet, the Gong Power Symbol, and all kinds of other fantastic (literally) entities. Their lyrics directly relate. You cannot separate their music (at least during that early period) from their underlying mythology.

I have a 32-page booklet written by Daevid Allen in 1979 which he handed out at concerts. I'll try to scan it and put it online if there's any interest.

Hi,

I might be mistaken and we should ask Johnny (Green if he is still around at GAS) ... about it ... but to my knowledge, all of those things, including some things I have off emails and other articles from many years ago, I would imagine/think that it is all rather well known, though not in America, where the band was not as much appreciated and seen in concert with a much larger crowd than the bar locations that GONG was a part of, which even Pierre Moerlin made a comment about it at their 2nd tour here in Portland. He didn't mind the music, but he was not excited about the bar crowd. Bloomdido and him spent a lot of time yapping at the veranda in the hotel (next to the venue - Crystal Ballroom) ... you could easily take a picture of them and they would likely wave at you! To Mike H. (talked to him more than once) it didn't matter and he said it was about the music, not anything else, and he didn't care of there were 10 folks or a thousand out there ... he'll still be the dependable Mike H. each and every time! His funniest comment was in the sound check in Eugene ... "is it too bass'y?" ... I didn't think so at all ... but it wasn't my call!

GAS, at one time had at least 2 CD's full of comments by Daevid and various interviews. I would think that if there was a booklet, that Johnny would have some of them ... and Daevid also gave away some paperwork during his first go round on his own when he was in Santa Barbara at a friend's house, and played a couple of shows at a place called "The Wolf" ... it was him, several tapes and a speaker or two as tall as he was! it was a wonderful, lovely, intimate show ... and he called it The Divided Alien ... I'll try to find those bits and pieces and notes. I also have a "Professor's Certificate" made by Daevid for me. 

The one part that is apparently lost is the Gilly stuff ... she had massive amounts of poetry and written works, and we shared a lot of poems in various emails ... and no one knows anything about it, or seems to know about it, and the folks in Australia for some reason never (either) bothered, or simply could not find anything ... being the "beat poet" that she was ... it would not surprise me if she did not keep anything, so that tomorrow's line and poem will be fresh and new.


Edited by moshkito - September 28 2023 at 13:26
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Points: 14122 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote octopus-4 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 28 2023 at 13:50

Classics apart ( I love the trilogy and Shamal), I would suggest an underrated one that is Shapeshifter.
As Moshkito says, it's no longer GonG, and since a lot of years, but I think it's a good album not too difficult for starters and with some hints of the old GonG here and there.
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What not mentioned :

Acid Motherhood
Zero to Infinity
Time is The Key (Pierre Moerlens Gong)
About Time (New York Gong)
Floating Anarchy (Planet Gong)
Playbax`80 (Daevid Allen)
Good Morning (Daevid Allen)
Guru & Zero (Makoto Mango) (Daevid Allen and Acid Mother Temple)
Acid Mothers Gong : either one of the two live albums !!
Rejoice Im Dead
Expresso II (might have been mentioned, but "Heavy Tune" is the perfect intro to newbees !!!)

Happy Hunting !
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moshkito View Drop Down
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Points: 17524 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote moshkito Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 29 2023 at 05:07
Originally posted by zeb1981 zeb1981 wrote:

What not mentioned :
...
About Time (New York Gong)
Floating Anarchy (Planet Gong)
Acid Mothers Gong : either one of the two live albums !!
...

Hi,

NY Gong was interesting, however I think the recording and time was not exactly a good one for Daevid, and I think it shows.

Floating Anarchy is my FAVORITE "acid rock" album of all time ... welcome magick brothers and mystic sisters ... and off they go ... the last piece alone is a massive blowout. It's the meditative hard rock, if we have to describe it. And it's excellent!

Acid Mothers Gong is a very nice live album. Not sure it is great as the guests were a bit over the top, however the Gong folks maintained really well and made the show a bit better than just a thrashing show with Gong. But several moments stand out really well.

Their LIVE stuff in the later years before Daevid passed away were also very good and included Steve Hillage, that added a really nice touch to things, and in many ways was much closer to the Trilogy Gong, than otherwise, but it was clear that even after so many years doing their own thing, they had not lost a note or a touch. Miquette's added touches also helped, as some of the Live versions of Gong were missing keyboards really bad! Made it a bit "rock'ier" but also took away a bit of the far out tripping effects and made less room for Gilly.

BTW ... three drummers, and 3 different Gong's ... in their 1st American tour it was Pip ... and the well known picture that I took here in Portland that they used for several years. The 2nd tour was Pierre Moerlin. The next tour was the drummer that came from Soul2Soul (I think it was) ... the first one was with a jazzy touch, Pierre's version was very much more rock touched and strong, and Chris' version was more on the trippy side of the music ... still very good ... but very different. I have a tape (no idea what condition it is in ... have to check!!!) made by Mike (was the sound man in those trips and became the bass player in Allen's later material) is the Pierre version which I will take an ear to right away.
Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told!
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Psychedelic Paul View Drop Down
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Points: 40246 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psychedelic Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 29 2023 at 07:44
Originally posted by zeb1981 zeb1981 wrote:

What not mentioned :
...
About Time (New York Gong)
Floating Anarchy (Planet Gong)
Acid Mothers Gong : either one of the two live albums !!
...
I gave those three albums a mention near the top of Page 1, along with 55 other Gong albums. Wink
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zeb1981 View Drop Down
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Points: 51 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote zeb1981 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 29 2023 at 11:17
Originally posted by moshkito moshkito wrote:

[QUOTE=zeb1981]What not mentioned :
...
BTW ... three drummers, and 3 different Gong's ... 

Gong had many more drummers than 3
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moshkito View Drop Down
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Points: 17524 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote moshkito Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 29 2023 at 11:42
Originally posted by zeb1981 zeb1981 wrote:

Originally posted by moshkito moshkito wrote:

[QUOTE=zeb1981]What not mentioned :
...
BTW ... three drummers, and 3 different Gong's ... 

Gong had many more drummers than 3


Hi,

That's over their lifetime ... but in their first go round in America starting in 1995 (I think it was), it was Pip. the next tour was Pierre. Their 3rd go around (1999 SF Progressive Music Festival) had Chris.

Of these three my preference is for the Pierre version ... very powerful and totally far out.
Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told!
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Points: 649 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Boojieboy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 29 2023 at 13:47
They've obviously put out a ton of music.

Maybe sample Angel's Egg, Expresso II / Gazeuse!, and some later on. Those two albums mentioned sound nothing alike.


Edited by Boojieboy - September 29 2023 at 13:47
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moshkito View Drop Down
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Originally posted by octopus-4 octopus-4 wrote:

...
As Moshkito says, it's no longer GonG, and since a lot of years, but I think it's a good album not too difficult for starters and with some hints of the old GonG here and there.

Hi,

There's the rub as the Bard would say!

A "hint" for me, is not original and has little meaning. The old "GONG" was very original and did not exactly copy anyone and you might be hard pressed (as would I) in saying ... that's a bit of this here ... that's a bit of that there ... and so on.

I have no issue with the "new" GONG ... they can do whatever they please ... but calling themselves GONG is more of a publicity thing than it is meaningful otherwise. Without that name, they would not sell that much or as many people give it a listen. That's not to say they do not have anything nice or interesting, but sadly the "creativity" is left behind to stuff that is seen and heard all over 100's of other "progressive" rock bands out there. I would, almost, call it "pedestrian" and not original. GAS (Gong's label) had that issue before ... many solo albums, and far out and special things ... and no one knew much about them ... and you did not review the Glissando stuff or the Tibetan thing at all ... and still no one knows any of that stuff because Daevid and/or Gong is not on the name first!

But this is PA ... and the majority of folks that post only like "the classics" because they don't listen enough to new material. Very simple. And then hearing RV do her thing, seems far out and neat. 

Pal ... it's easy to do what folks already know ... but these folks don't have the guts to tackle something that is not as well known or heard ... and in this area, only Guy Guden stands out consistently ... he still plays more new material than anyone, and his choices for the show, even includes stuff going back to the 50's ... his musical knowledge and appreciation for NOW is what it is about ... but we do not have enough appreciation for NOW ... and think we have to bark and pee at the graven tree of TW so we remind ourselves of what "progressive" is ... it ain't progressive. It's theatrical, first!


Edited by moshkito - September 30 2023 at 06:40
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Originally posted by moshkito moshkito wrote:

I would think that if there was a booklet...


There IS a booklet. Why do you doubt it? Here is page 1...
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Here is a link to the full booklet, in PDF format (13 MB)...
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The current line up of Gong has been in place for a decade and was blessed by Daevid before he left this plane of existence. All the albums are pretty good, keep the Gong vibe, and they are great live so I'm gonna cut them some slack on keeping the name.
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Points: 17524 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote moshkito Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September 30 2023 at 12:15
Originally posted by wiz_d_kidd wiz_d_kidd wrote:

Originally posted by moshkito moshkito wrote:

I would think that if there was a booklet...


There IS a booklet. Why do you doubt it? Here is page 1...
...

Hi,

I didn't say there wasn't ... I said that Johnny G would probably know about it and might even have already set it out on a CD with various bits and pieces from Daevid. That's why I stated that GAS would have known about it. 

I never doubted it because Daevid had fun coloring and drawing stuff in many places and did so for at least an hour here in Portland! And there was some stuff for his show in Santa Barbara at "The Wolf" ... so you saying I was doubting it, is incorrect!
Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told!
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Originally posted by Nogbad_The_Bad Nogbad_The_Bad wrote:

The current line up of Gong has been in place for a decade and was blessed by Daevid before he left this plane of existence. All the albums are pretty good, keep the Gong vibe, and they are great live so I'm gonna cut them some slack on keeping the name.

Hi,

They are fine with me ... with or without Daevid's blessings. But I imagine that it is impossible to be an "original" since there is only one Daevid ... I have heard at least 2 CD's, but have not bought any of them ... go figure ... I kinda thought there was much more demanding and interesting stuff around for my tastes, which is not to say that this version of GONG is not good. They are fine!
Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told!
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Originally posted by sydbarrett2010 sydbarrett2010 wrote:

Hi, I'm hoping to get an answer on where to start with Gong, are they really that big a deal? I just listened to Radio Gnome Invisible from Flying Teapot and I'm, well not impressed (not that I didn't like it), but I guess I know what's going on with them. Recommendations would be appreciated.


There are several Gong bands which are an extension of the Gong family. This particular album Flying Teapot starts the story of the Planet Gong or is part of the early stages of the mythology of the Planet Gong along with its predecessors Majick Brother and Camembert Electrique.

When I first heard the album 40 years ago it sounded different from everything else. I can certainly see the album not having the same impact in 2023...to most people Checking it out the first time.

But even 40 some years ago Angel's Egg and You were generally more impressive...even though music is subjective sometimes it can possible for a band to record an album and later after releasing it not being too fond of it. To an extent it can be a fact that a band recorded and released a weak album . Weak when compared to their other albums regardless of the hundreds of people who like the album. People who like it do not perceive it as weak..however regarding composition and playing levels it is.

To me the story of the Planet Gong was zany not unlike a weird cartoon or insane children's story. That's why I like Flying Teapot really. It's insane storytelling combined with a theatrical vibe.

Gong released material in the 90s and 2000s that I really liked. It was generally more modern without losing the essence of the original style. Sometimes they can be goofy or silly in a strange way not unlike Zappa.

The fusion Gong...instrumental Gong...was the trademark of Pierre Morlean...Those albums are really outstanding..but they don't differ too much from a standard Fusion..Jazz Rock album by Brand X or possibly others in the 70s using a Fusion formula. Gong were pretty unique in the area of percussion. The xylophone gave them character.

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