OBSOLETE

I remember someone posting an audio clip of Dashiell Hedayatt's "Cielo Drive" and before I was too far into the song I was writing down the information as I knew I had to have this. Unfortunately my cd liner notes are in French but at least the lineup and words on the back of the liner notes are in English. Dashiell is a French poet and writer who has enlisted the GONG lineup from the "Camembert Electrique" period, in fact that album along with GONG's "Continental Circus" and the album I am reviewing all were released in 1971 and they all have a similar vibe. Of note Robert Wyatt is not on this album as a few have stated but his son Sam who was 5 years old at the time does say some "baby" words on the closing number. Sam was raised by Pip Pyle and there's a great picture of the two in the centerfold of the "Camembert Electrique liner notes I have from the same period.

We get two long suites but the first one "Oh, Mushroom, Will You Mush My Room?" is divided into 3 tracks. Up first is "Chrysler" which reminds me of GURU GURU for some reason. Check out the psychedelic guitar in the intro as vocals, bass and drums kick in quickly. I like when the sax joins in, love that tone. Catchy stuff. It's like they jam the rest of the way but check out the bass before 6 minutes. Nice. "Fille De L'Ombre" opens with water sounds as percussion joins in. More water sounds then we get spoken words, guitar and some freak-out sounds. Insanity! "Long Song For Zelda" features strummed guitar and vocals to start and they sound so good here. Drums and bass join in then we get a second guitar before 1 1/2 minutes. Dashiell offers up some theatrical vocals sounds around 5 minutes then he continues to pretty much speak the words. Sax follows adding a sexy mood. It turns freaky after 7 minutes to end it including a spoken word bit by William S. Burroughs.

"Cielo Drive/17" is haunting to begin with and very psychedelic as this hypnotic bass line joins in before a minute. Eerie sounds continue but check out that bass! Drums and cymbals join in as well. Spoken words before 4 minutes, sax too. A guitar solo from Pip replaces the spoken words before 8 minutes but the words are back quickly as the guitar continues to light it up with bass and drums supporting. Around 11 1/2 minutes we're back to that haunting atmosphere with those hypnotic bass lines. Unreal! Drums help out and then those spoken baby words from Sam arrive before 12 1/2 minutes. Flute after 14 minutes as spoken words follow. The guitar is back before 16 minutes as the vocals and sound turn somewhat bombastic. It's starting to wind down at 16 1/2 minutes until we get a dreamy, folky soundscape with vocals as it drifts on to the end of this epic track.

I can't give this less than 5 stars, it's a Psychedelic masterpiece and better than my favourite GONG albums, all in my opinion of course.