RADIO GNOME INVISIBLE PART 1 - FLYING TEAPOT

Absolutely brilliant! The 1973 'Flying Teapot' album by Gong is an astonishing space rock odyssey, a grand enjoyment from start to finish, and a must-have, whether you dive in for the masterful psych explorations, or because of the corky, yet quite entertaining Gong mythology, this third studio album of theirs is among the band's best all time offerings. The jazzy sound blends seamlessly with the spacey, adventurous and quite unsober meanderings, resulting in one of the most unique listening experiences one could ever have, as I am yet to discover a band that sounds anything like 70s Gong.

Daevid Allen and Co. (and what an impressive company he has on 'Flying Teapot' - Didier Malherbe, Steve Hillage, Gilli Smyth, Tim Blake, and Francis Moze, among others) go all in on this epic but marvelously silly album that combines the love for psychedelia with the progressive leanings of these very gifted musicians, ultimately giving birth to one of the gems of the Canterbury Scene. The album is centered around the two longer pieces, both of which gradually develop until the reaching of the much-desired climax; simply, space rock classics! Opening track 'Radio Gnome Invisible' is certainly a goofier, borderline comical piece that sets the tone for the whole album (and dare I say, for the whole Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy) - far away from being too serious, always very trippy, but making no excuses when it comes to composing undeniably good musical landscapes, the 'principal rules' of Gong. Then comes the 12-minute 'Flying Teapot', the first real great composition by the band, an incredibly sophisticated psych-prog explosion.

Side two contains the catchy 'The Pot Head Pixies' and the idyllic 'The Octave Doctors and the Crystal Machine', both full of layers of synths and trippy sounds, maybe a bit corny, but ultimately enjoyable in the context of the record. The 10-minute long 'Zero the Hero and the Witch's Spell' is the other big highlight, much in the spirit of 'Flying Teapot', it is a song that gradually builds up until the band start their unapologetically satiating cosmic explorations. Finally, there is 'Witch's Song / I Am Your Pussy', one of the weirdest songs I have ever heard, this is all I am going to say.

All in all, 'Flying Teapot' is a too excellent example of the silly cosmic rock side of prog; Of course, it should not be neglected because of this, as one would hear some of the most intricate and coherent music that has been composed during the early 70s, topped by the unmistakable atmosphere of the Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy.