RADIO GNOME INVISIBLE VOL. 3 - YOU

Okay, last night I turned off the lights, sat down, got comfortable, turned up the volume on my stereo and put this album on. This was the 8th or 10th time listening to it the first time meditating to it. This is really an album to focus on while listening to, not something catchy and definitely not for dancing to. During this album I felt it effect me, I wasn't listening to music I was absorbing it, it wasn't just music it affected me. I cannot explain the feelings I had, I felt changed like a spiritual experience. It was very real, I did not listen to the music I stepped into it and was surrounded, I felt it in my bones and my gut, it quickened my pulse and emptied my thoughts, I became a part of something. It did this to me when I was completely sober, not a single mind enhancing substance was used and the music (which seemed more than just music) produced these amazing feelings.

now for the tracks: Thought for Naught is a slow start but sets the mood nicely. I immediately feel that this is different than anything I know. Gilli Smith creates images with her voice and she is probably the most unique part of the track. Thought for Naught really just sets up what is to come. A P.H.P.'s Advice is a fun track, I enjoy the percussion and the vocals (although they seem incomprehensible) are done very well. The transition between songs is also perfectly done. Which leads to Magick Mother Invocation, the track that nearly put me to sleep while meditating to this album. Nothing really happens in this track but a mood change from A PHP's Advice to Master Builder. Master Builder is my favorite track on You, this track is the most difficult to explain. I love the way it builds up. The drumming is quite possibly the best drumming ever. It fits with what is going on perfectly. It is amazing that the drums are kept in the background, every other great drummer I have listened to overpowers the rest of the sound when it is of this quality, but Moerlen does just what drums are meant for, staying in the background, but creates amazing rythyms. Other bands would use a drummer of this talent as a poster boy and keep him in the foreground, but because of the level of skill the other members contain, the drumming becomes just a part of something bigger. Also the bass work is ridiculous, how was this band not more popular with this kind of talent? Sprikling of Clouds starts slow and builds up just like Master Builder did, but the way it flows is even more enjoyable. Sprinkling of Clouds is almost my favorite track on the album, the slow opening helped me catch my breath after the climax of Master Builder. The best part here is the bass work, the bass sings to me here it is very nice. Perfect Mystery follows the same sort of style as A PHP's Advice and it is perfectly placed in this album, it is a very nice change from the previous three tracks and the next one, The Isle of Everywhere. The Isle of Everywhere has a repetitious background part and different instrumets taking the lead throughout I like the style of it and it is another well done track. I think it is the easiest track to appreciate on You. You Never Blow Yr Trip Forever I think is a bad closer to this album, its good but its not as excellent as the previous tracks. It is enjoyable but forgettable.

Its hard to decide whether to give this album 4 or 5 stars, I think it is a masterpiece and it affected me in a very positive way, but it is definitely not for everyone. I will give it 4 stars because it fits the description just right it is an excellent addition to any prog music collection. I recommend it to those with a very open mind and a willingness to do nothing but listen and absorbed the experience of music. Try it sober or not, the same effects happen, either way it is good. This is my first Canterbury Album and first Gong album, I am excited to have more experiences with this band and genre, a great start to it for sure.