RADIO GNOME INVISIBLE VOL. 3 - YOU

The definitive "Gong" Gong album (and by that I mean the album that is most akin to the Gong lifestyle and all that comes with it). This is one of the few albums out of many that I can give a perfect score. If you're into complex psychedelic music, you will appreciate this album from the first listen.

This has always been my favorite album by the band (maybe with the exception of Universe Also Collapses) as they channeled the bridge between 'space rock' and Canterbury's lo-fi dada style. Let's break it down track by track:

A1: Thought for Naught A2: A P.H.P.'s advice

Superb intro sequence featuring all the intricate instrumentation and subtleties that immediately immerse the listener in the distinctive world of Gong. "Thought for Naught" serves as an excellent opening statement, blending spacey elements with a touch of Canterbury's avant-garde spirit. Gong excels at creating a sonic landscape unlike anything of the time.

A3: Magick Mother Invocation A4: Master Builder

This one is a fan favorite and so many have heard it. We're getting really deep into south-asian style ohm's and drones before it builds chaotically into a jam session. This would've been phenomenal to witness live (remembering that jam rock still wasn't really a genre). This builds into the highlight of Side A (in my opinion), the next track which is...

A5: A Sprinkling of Clouds

Now each to their own, but to me this is one of my favorite synth tracks ever. It has similarities in parts to PF's "Any Colour You Like" section on DSOTM which in essence is just an arpeggiated synth jam similar to what Tangerine Dream was making at the time. This one builds on a VCS3? arpeggio with echo out the left channel, and another similar arp on the right. The sonic result is a top tier listening experience which erupts into a fantastic synth solo above the landscape that they'd just painted, which in true Gong fashion then turns into another untethered loose jam. This track is perfection to me, maybe you have to be a synth-head to truly get it.

B1: Perfect Mystery

This is somewhat of a "prog-pop" (as oxymoronic as that is) piece. It really reminds me of late 70s, early 80s new-wave type bands like Talking Heads. This is a pretty good song and it flows very well. No cops at the dooor! This is really a part of the album where Pierre (the drummer) really begins to shine.

B2: The Isle of Everywhere

This is the beginning of the end, and boy does this album end strong. Here we start a vamp and begin primarily a jazz piece. We have Didier Malherbe and Daevid playing a few solos for 10 minutes, which eventually turns into the highlight of this side, and possibly the album...

B3: You Never Blow Yr Trip Forever

Now THIS is Gong. This encapsulates every bit that made this band so effing good. We've got complexity and compositional freedom turned up to the maximum, and maybe a few mushrooms to boot. Pierre begins to unleash some seriously difficult rhythms and patterns that few can decipher, Daevid has his biggest trip ever and scats and sings hallucinogenic lyrics "Don't you remember why you came to everywhere?" over SUPERB guitar riffs. When the second part of the song kicks in and the soprano sax begins to mimic the main guitar riff is as good as it gets. This album peaks in this moment, and the leadup has been great. This is a headbanger of a track, you will find yourself yelling along with Daevid, "Earth mother soul brother!".

Very few (I am not one of them) are eloquent enough to translate music to words. It is an art in its own form, so go ahead and take a listen!

Final word: So there goes Zero the Hero Turning on around the wheel of births and deaths And meanwhile the Octave Doctors And the Pot Head Pixies and All the other characters of The Planet Gong have to to leave you now With a last little song

Why don't you try...