A retrospective review of a much loved album from 1974 by David Weston
Gong? I hear some of you ask, who or what is Gong?
In some ways Gong is Daevid Allen and whichever musicians are, or have been fortunate enough to work with him over the last 30 years. In other ways it is a musical philosophy strong on experimentation, ground breaking musical fusions and mysticism.
Gong is still around today (1999) in a variety of forms (see the Gong Appreciation Society - GAS site for details) but the Gong that made the best albums and crystallised their own unique sound existed in the early 1970's, splitting up after making the truly glorious album in question. Geographically the band comprised both English and French personnel, spiritually it seemed to come from somewhere in the Himalayas.
You, released in 1974, was part three of a set of albums commonly known as the 'Flying Teapot Trilogy', the first two parts being 'Flying Teapot' and 'Angels Egg'. Over the course of the trilogy Gong lost some of the spaced-out musical anarchy to be found on the earlier records ('Magick Brother Mystic Sister' and 'Camembert Electrique') to become a truly amazing psychedelic (sorry but I can't think of a better word for it), jazz-rock ensemble. Unlike most 'jazz-rock' or 'fusion' bands however, Gong had real soul (a 'heart' rather than the musical genre) and a reason for playing other than just to show off how accomplished they were.
I don't want to dwell on the meaning of the trilogy in too much detail as I am sure that interpretations can be found elsewhere on the WWW and to be honest I am not sure if anyone other than Daevid really understands it all. Briefly though, the teapot trilogy charts the trials and tribulations of one 'Zero the Hero' who by the end of the You album gains a level of spiritual awareness and the understanding that 'you are I and I are you'. To me this amounts to a common universal consciousness of which all things are a part and which we can help to raise if we contribute good actions and thoughts (goodwill). This is a theme to be found in a number of works of the period including Genesis's 'Lamb Lies Down On Broadway' and Van Der Graaf Generator's 'Plague of Lighthouse Keepers'. It seemed that during the 70's something (herbal tea maybe?) happened which made people want to expound this philosophy. Jolly good I say.
What about the music I hear you say?
If you haven't ever heard Gong you may find it all a little unusual. As well as the jazz-rock element mentioned above and Daevid's poem-songs you will find the very definition of what has become known as 'ambient' or 'chill-out' music contained within. However whereas since the 80's this type of music has largely become trapped by the boring, repetitious cage created by the drum machine (I hate what these bloody things have done to music!) and sequencers, on You the whole thing is driven forward by the truly wonderful rhythm section that was Mike Howlett on bass guitar and Pierre Moerlen on drums (BOA experienced a truly orgasmic Gong gig in 1997 with this very same rhythm section - we counted ourselves very lucky to be alive that night).
The ambient element is created by a combination of Daevid's glissando guitar (what is it? listen to OK Computer for a more recent example, it's sort of slide guitar extended and played as a continuous drone with lots of echo) and Tim Blake's sumptuous Mini Moog drones and twiddle-blips.
By the way, when you look at the sleeve you won't see many of these names. In a sort of ego-losing exercise some of the band members assumed new names (as happens in some religious groups). Daevid Allen became 'Dingo Virgin', Tim Blake 'Hi T Moonweed' and Didier Malherbe (sax and flute) 'Bloomdido Bad de Grass' (or sometimes as one the You sleeve Glad de Brass).
As well as the delights already described you will also find on this album Didier's inspirational sax and flute playing, Gilli Smyth's haunting 'Space Whisper', Mireille Bauer's jazzy percussion, a few nursery rhymes and the odd Buddhist chant. Intrigued? Just wait till you hear it.
Track Listing
Side 1
Thought For Nought
A P.H.P.'s Advice (P.H.P. = Pot Head Pixie)
Magick Mother Invocation
Master Builder
A Sprinkling Of Clouds
Side 2
Perfect Mistery (sic)
The Isle Of Everywhere
You Never Blow Your Trip Forever
My favourite bits? All of side one for a start (in CD terms that is the first 5 tracks up to the end of 'A Sprinkling of Clouds'). The music just rises and rises over the course of the tracks until by the second half of 'A Sprinkling of Clouds' it floats away into the stratosphere taking the listener (dining in or out) with it - a process known as 'Glidding' in Gong terms. On side two 'Isle of Everywhere' serves up similar delights.
By the way have I mentioned Steve Hillage? Of course he is on You as well prior to leaving for a solo career and subsequently System 7. Seeing Steve in Hyde Park, London in 1976 was the reason I got into Gong in the first place. Throughout the album, but especially on 'Master Builder' (the track the Ozrics turned into about seven albums), 'A Sprinkling..' and 'Isle..', his guitar is like the icing a particularly tasty and nutritious cake (carrot maybe). Not too sweet but just totally and absolutely brilliant and an object lesson in 'In a Tent' (see Chemical Alice page for explanation) guitar playing. Stop playing with computers Steve and form a real band again please.
So there it is, Gong - You.
If you have never heard Gong I whole-heartedly recommend this as an introduction. If you like it then work your way back through the trilogy.
If you have heard Gong and didn't like them, try this one if you haven't heard it already.
If you like this album as much as I do then I am glad to have made your acquaintance.
Love
David Weston May 1999
P.S. A double CD of You remixes appeared in 1997 featuring the talents of the ORB, System 7 (Steve remixes himself) and others. Not bad but don't buy it until you have bought the whole trilogy.
Check out Jezaland - An amazing site covering a broad range of music and stuff but especially lots of great information, photos and links relating to the UK festival scene of the 70's and related bands such as Gong, Here & Now, Steve Hillage, Zorch etc.Checkout the 'Bandwagon' and 'Festival Photos' areas.