Gong

Live album recorded during the first « Gong reunion » in May 28, 1977 in Hippodrome de Pantin (Paris), organised by Jacques Pasquier. The classic Gong line-up with founder Daevid Allen didn’t exist anymore at this date, but reconvened for this event, which also featured all bands formed by ex or current Gong members : Daevid Allen with Euterpe, Didier Malherbe’s Bloom, the « official » Gong led by Pierre Moerlen, Mike Howlett’s Strontium 90, Tim Blake’s Crystal Machine, Steve Hillage’s band etc…

Gong slowly came together in the late '60s when Australian guitarist Daevid Allen (ex-Soft Machine) began making music with his wife, singer Gilli Smyth, along with a shifting lineup of supporting musicians. Albums from this period include Magick Brother, Mystic Sister (1969) and the impromptu jam session Bananamoon (1971) featuring Robert Wyatt from the Soft Machine, Gary Wright from Spooky Tooth, and Maggie Bell…

Mother Gong's first album Mother was released in 1978 and the band found Gilli Smyth collaborating with many musicians including Harry Williamson and various friends and family including on this album Owl In The Tree from 1990, former partner Daevid Allen. The album is split into two halves and both Allen and Smyth work well within the limitations set out by vinyl bearing in mind that the days of vinyl made for a more convenient division, which is defined, by the individual styles of both Allen and Smyth. The album is a mix of both styles including Allen's blissed out space rocker style and Smyth's more laid back fairy tale recitations and a smattering of typically Gong like instrumental work.

This is the deluxe hardback book edition that includes 3 discs and a 48 page book. Disc 1 is the studio album. Disc 2 contains demos, spontaneous jams and additional album tracks. Disc 3 is a DVD-AV with 24/96 PCM stereo and DTS 96/24 5.1 digital surround. 48 page book includes previously unseen live, backstage and studio photos as well as poems by Daevid Allen.

Fabulous collection of Gong French TV appearances. The DVD is relatively short and covers two distinct periods of the band. It includes some of the earliest known footage of the band playing live for French television circa 1971 and 72. Watching the band live must have been a real experience as they took the art of drug induced hippiness to the next level. The band performs four tracks of their signature jazz/space rock jams including "Never Fight Another War", "Dreamin It", "Dynamite" and "Foghat Digs Holes In Space". Spacey synth work, ripping bass runs and the vocal caterwauling of Gilli Smyth and Allen is all included for your enjoyment. That is, if you like your music of the somewhat bizarre variety. The performances are good and offer a rare glimpse of the band in those early years…

Gilli Smyth first started performing with Soft Machine in the sixties when the band played their mixture of poetry/music gigs. Gilli became more active as a performer following the formation of Gong with her partner Daevid Allen following his departure from the aforementioned Soft Machine in 1968. Following her departure with Allen from Paris following the Paris riots of late 1968 Gilli along with Allen decamped to Spain although the duo once again returned to France in 1969 where the second edition of Gong became a reality. Gilli was the only female in the band originally and developed her "Space Whisper" which became an integral part of the Gong sound.