RADIO GNOME INVISIBLE VOL. 3 - YOU

I was first introduced to Gong's music, quite a few years back, with ANGEL'S EGG--the second installment in the Radio Gnome Trilogy. Their music seemed way too goofy for my tastes and, to be honest, I still don't appreciate most of Daevid Allen's Gong's music (although I dig the jazz-fusion of the Pierre Moerlen's Gong, especially EXPRESSO II). After recently listening to PM's Gong, I thought it my be worth another shot at the Daevid Allen stuff. I don't enjoy YOU as much as post-Daevid Allen Gong albums, but I must say that I am pleasantly surprised with the quality and performance of the music on this record. YOU may be filled with instrumental jams, but these performances are still captivating and don't seem to meander as most improvised rock does. The first three tracks "Thoughts for Naughts," "A PHP's Advice," and "Magick Mother Invocation" are the kind of whacked-out space-rock ditties that turned me off to Gong in the first place--although I admit the klezmer influences on "A PHP's Advice" really add to the playfulness of the tune. Then comes tracks four and five, "Master Builder" and "A Sprinkling of Clouds," and the record suddenly turns to space-prog jams that are full of down-to-business-no-funny-stuff jazz-rock musicianship and void of Daevid Allen and Gilli Smyth's *annoying* vocals and lyrics. Daevid Allen then manages to squeeze one last goof-ball song, "Perfect Mystery," in before the magnificent "Isle of Everywhere," a really funky jazz-rock jam featuring a blistering solo by guitarist Steve Hillage. The final track "You Never Blow Yr Trip Forever," also holds together pretty well, although it is NOT a *superb* closer. In general, I'd say that YOU is the greatest Daevid Allen-led Gong album and certainly the best installment in the Radio Gnome Trilogy. Highlights include: "Master Builder," "A Sprinkling of Clouds" and "Isle of Everywhere." Recommended if you like Soft Machine, Ozric Tentacles, or Pierre Moerlen's Gong. GRADE: B- (82%)