There are not many bands in the world that made 26 studio albums. So in that case Gong did something unusual, Gong is also a band that survived a lot of bands in that way. And of course that is not totally true because the current line-up has not one member that played on their debut album. Gong is a band that maybe had the most changes in line up also. I did not figure that out till the bottom, but if you look at all the band members, past and present, then the only conclusion is that there are really a lot of changes. The debut album of Gong was in 1969, so the band has an age of 57 at this moment. For me I can only have respect that a band has such inspiration and motivation to do what they are doing best, making music. And that for almost 60 years. The creator and inspiration of the first hour, Daevid Allen, played in Gong until he died in 2015. In 1974 he left the band after six studio albums, under which the triple album series Radio Gnome Invisible. These three albums are considered the highlight of Gong. Plenty of records later, Daevid Allen came back in 1989 with the studio album Gongmaison: Gongmaison and made another five albums. When he died he had one wish and that was that Gong surely continue with a steady line-up, something that never happened until long after that time. After his death the line-up is steady with Ian East on saxophone and other woodwinds, Fabio Golfetti on guitar and vocals, Cheb Nettles on drums and vocals, Dave Sturt on bass and Kavus Torabi on vocals and guitars. They made the records Rejoice! I'm Dead! (see review) in 2016, The Universe Also Collapses in 2019 and Unending Ascending in 2023. If you are not familiar with the band Gong, what can you expect from this band, how does it sound and is it possible to give a name on the style they are playing? Well, for me it is really experimental music, you can call it psychedelic music, that term comes as close as could be. Over all you cannot predict which direction the songs will go, they go from left to right, from right to left, from the bottom to the sky and back again, and everything in-between. I am enjoying the music of Gong since the Rejoice! I'm Dead album. I tried to listen to the Radio Gnome albums, but I think I am a little to sober for that music, although there are good songs on that albums. And maybe I have to listen some more to them because somehow it attracts me. I want to tell you that the latest album, Unending Ascending, sounds as the best for me since I discovered them. On average, the songs on this album had the highest floating content where you could create your own world. Something I really appreciate in Gong's music. Now we have to deal with Bright Spirit, the 26th studio album. And the big question is of course if a band like Gong is still actual in the current music business, or is it like old wine in new bottles? Well, let me take you on the trip that is called Gong. But before I do that, the delivered information said that Bright Spirit takes Gong further into a euphoric dreamworld of wonder and futuristic beauty. That is just a statement for me. Dream Of Mine directly pulls you into another world, this time an Eastern world with music that will be played in most African countries. It is a lovely intro and bodes well. Of course your headphones are on and the volume is to the max. It is the longest track of the album with ten minutes. It is a great Gong song with all elements that is Gong, not followable woodwinds, great guitar playing, good vocals from Kavus, solid rhythm section and towards the end a lot of space to create your own world, yeah! Gong is back and how! Before we enter with the second song, just sit and relax, I really do need to recover from that first great song which has brought me to seventh heaven. The second one is Mantivule and starts so weird. It is the combination of a world of guitars, a world of cosmic keyboard soundscapes, a world of saxophone playing melted with a great rhythm section to complete it. All players do their thing, apart from each other but it truly fits perfect. So let yourself go and do what you want to do, if that is sitting, lying, dancing, tripping, I do not mind, but do what you need to do and enjoy this piece of art. Halfway it becomes more heavy because of the guitars, but do not get used to it because space is closing around you to immerse you in a saxophone solo. Can you still follow me? No? I can surely understand that. That do we call the world of Gong. So there we go with the third ride, The Wonderment. This one has that spacey sounds to introduce another dreamworld, with repetitive and hypnotizing keyboards where you can melt away, with a saxophone solo that feels so so good. 'Spirit Right' is what Kavus sings and that is exactly what you feel, the right spirit. Halfway the song I cannot hide my tears anymore, especially during a dragging guitar solo. The song a kind of fades away and I realize again that the title of the song exactly is what the music releases in you. So the ranking of really great songs is now 3, out of 3. Stars In Heaven continues on the album. This song colors between the lines a little more, something that is necessary after the first three great songs to land a little more on earth. Is this one the first less song? Not at all, it is absolutely nice to listen to, but it is less pronounced. Then it is the turn for Fragrance Of Paradise. Also this song starts a bit mellow with great saxophone playing. In the middle section it is purely Gong again, inimitable parts of the diverse players that are continued with some more heavy guitar parts after which Ian may show his tricks on the woodwinds again, while the song becomes more and more heavy so that the neck muscles also have something to do. The latest part is more mellow again. Another great song. The sixth one is Relish The Possibility. In this one the drumming tells it's own story in how the drums are caressed, you can feel the love for his drumming. This time it is a kind of ballad that really fits with here and now some flute and singing together. The last one, Eternal Hand. I have so many respect for a band to do what they like the most to do and that is giving a song where you can create your own world in all the sounds given to you. This time again with keyboard soundscapes that are on itself and be directed by your brain or guts. Halfway the song it becomes some more a kind of Gong song some lighter and more in the style of Stars In Heaven with lovely flutes. And after this the cake is gone, nothing is left. I really have to recover from everything I have heard, felt, experienced and undergone. Since the last incarnation of Gong, this is the fourth studio album with the same line-up and if I am honest, they did not make a bad record at all. All albums are steady and have another mood, but they are all Gong 21st century. Earlier I asked myself if Gong music nowadays is old wine in new bottles and if there still is a place for Gong. Well, I can only tell you that the music of Gong is really necessary for all music lovers that like songs where you can create your own world, dream and feel good. I have to admit that the best songs for me are on the first half of the album, I like the more psychedelic ones. I hope that Gong will continue for at least another 57 years and another 26 albums, I am in! Long live Gong. ****+ Michel Stolk (edited by Tracy van Os van den Abeelen) Where to buy? |
