You Are in Orbit! Space-Rock Appreciation Thread!

cstack3 wrote: How wonderful, and a great way to start the thread (Gong-You)!  Welcome to PA!!  I saw Gong in Chicago, March 10, 1996 and they were amazing!!  Daevid Allen, Bloomdido, Mike Howlett, and Steffe Sharpstrings on guitar & synth!!  I looked Mr. Sharpstrings up recently, he is recording some amazing space-rock with glissando guitar, synth and all sorts!!  Please check this out!  He has a lot of material on YouTube and Bandcamp!!

Ah, the cosmic vibrations of the Gong as well as Mr. Sharpstrings' echo are like a vortex of colours swirling in the mind's eye. Daevid Allen and his merry band of sonic sorcerers—Bloomdido, Mike Howlett, and Steffe Sharpstrings—were surely conjuring up a space-rock symphony that danced with the stars and tickled the very fabric of reality!🌈✨

Gazeuse! Unravelling Gong's complicated discography of 57 varieties of album turned out to be almost as tricky as walking the high-wire at a Continental Circus. Gong have been in existence for over half a century now, so I thought it About Time we paid Tribute to a great band and Rejoiced together in their wonderful music. Gong breezed in like a Shamal with their debut album Magick Brother in 1970, but their real Breakthrough came three years later with the acclaimed Radio Gnome Invisible Trilogy. Gong began as a band led by Aussie Daevid Allen, but they then had a Second Wind in the mid-1970's when Pierre Moerlen branched off to form his own jazzy version of Gong. A later third version of the band - known as Mother Gong - emerged in the late-70's, led by Wild Child Gilli Smyth. I don't want to create A Storm in a Teapot, but personally speaking, I wouldn't give a Flying Teapot for any of Mother Gong's albums, although I realise they have a strong following here at PA. Anyway, to cut a long story short, my favourite Gong album by far is Downwind  - a precious album to treasure like an Angel's Egg - and I'll now Leave It Open for You to choose your favourite Gong album. 

Edited by Psychedelic Paul - July 28 2024 at 00:57

I prophesy disaster wrote: There is an irony that this thread is about all things Space Rock given that Gong is not in that genre on PA.

Hawkwind - The Ultimate Space Rock Band - Individually & Collectively

Psychedelic Paul wrote:

Hey you, cosmic traveler! 🌌✨

As we drift through the kaleidoscopic waves of sound and as I can see that we both love stars, I invite you to embark on a sonic journey with "Continuum" by Spacehead. This 2003 live version is a vibrant tapestry woven from the threads of Gongonesque spacey sound and Hawkwind's interstellar heavy rock vibes. Imagine yourself floating in a nebula of colours, where each note resonates like stardust dancing in the cosmic breeze.

Let your mind expand as you tune into this celestial symphony that transcends time and space, inviting you to explore the infinite realms of consciousness. 🌈💫 Feel the groove pulsate through your being, awakening your inner spirit and connecting you to the universal heartbeat.

David_D wrote: My favourite albums of, what I can consider to be progressive Space Rock, are:           Agitation Free  (D)  -  Malesch  (1972)           Clearlight  (F)  -  Forever Blowing Bubbles  (1975)           Eloy  (D)  -  Floating (1974), Ocean  (1977)           Far East Family Band  (J)  -  Nipponjin  (1975)           Hawkwind  (UK)  -  In Search Of Space  (1971)           Hidria Spacefolk  (Fin)  -  Symbiosis   (2002)           Khan  (UK)  -  Space Shanty   (1972)           Ozric Tentacles  (UK)  -  Erpland   (1990)           Shora  (CH)  -  Malval  (2005)           Vespero  (RUS)  -  By the Waters of Tomorrow  (2010)

Space Rock: To boldly go where No-Man has gone before. Well, apart from Steven Wilson, obviously. 

Edited by Psychedelic Paul - July 23 2024 at 07:25

Logan wrote: Gong's You absolutely is a Space Rock album, as well as being Canterbury.  Prog Archives is limited to one genre (or label) for whole discographies while band's individual album could be labelled differently commonly and individual albums could have multiple labels.  I think it makes more sense in such topics to think on the album level rather than whole discographies.  Not all Gong would be described as Space Rock.  You is for me its spaciest album, and for me its greatest album, but the whole Radio Gnome Invisible Trilogy has Space rock qualities. The earlier Gong albums I would call Psychedelic, and later ones more on the jazz fusion/ jazz rock side. Gong's You, Angel's Egg and Flying Teapot are all great and applicable to this topic.  Whatever you call You, You is out of this world!

I've always liked Guru, Guru. They are one of those bands in life that is divided into 3 parts. Space Rock, Jazz Rock , World Music....however...I don't see them that way because I hear a Space Rock style on the Fusion type albums and the more World Music oriented stuff. If you want to see it as divided that's fine. I like their approach to Space Rock. The longevity of it is evident from early 70s to the present on albums like Rotate.

Hawkwind I have mixed feelings sometimes depending on the end result or overall affect their albums have on me. Have close to 30 cds.

Gong are one of my favorites. I've been listening to Gong since 1973 so I'm up and down with my listening time. Maybe once a month I'll listen to Gong.

Amon Duul II ...I have the first 3 on cd.

Cosmic Jokers, Neu, Ashra Tempel, Can..I've been listening to these bands since the mid to late 70s. At one time I owned everything on LP. Now I have most of it on CD.