Shamal

I still have this album on cassette (I know!), but I thought I’d update to a format that (a) sounds better and (b) doesn’t continually unwind and get clogged in the machine. The first thing I noticed was that, although the tracks listed on the c.d. follow the order of those on the cassette, when the disc is played on my p.c., instead of playing in the order 1,2,3,4,5,6, we get 3,4,2,5,6,1 for some reason. I don’t suppose it makes much difference to the music which remains as “out there” as ever; one can only conclude that fairly high doses of natural plant material accompanied the writing process. I mean: what’s a “wingful of eyes”, anyway? What's more, if that's Mike Howlett on track 1, I hate to tell you, but you're not going to win any awards for singing : the words are getting coaxed out of your larynx slowly, painfully, and in a very FLAT tone (maaaan).

This is a fantastic, original, unique record. I owned it in the '70s and it wasn't prog enough for a teenage Genesis partisan. Forty odd years on, I've finally caught up with it and it's become one of the most-played records in my collection. A negative reviewer has pointed out that it's a mix of prog and jazz and that's true to a large extent but does no justice to the effortless, evocative and very melodic feel of the album. This isn't indulgent-solos jazz/prog, it isn't pompous or melodramatic and it doesn't noodle. It certainly has the musicianship and complexity of prog and sometimes uses a very jazzy instrumental lexicon (vibes, sax etc), and it also puts emphasis on instruments over vocals. But what it has that so much (not all!) jazz and prog lacks is a groove and a sense of space. There's sometimes a lot going on but the musicians are playing off one another, not on top of one another. There are no keyboard chords and very little guitar (what there is, from Steve Hillage, is great). Nick Mason's production is limpid and precise but never forgets to bring out the soul. Makes me wish he'd done much more production, instead of driving racing cars. And although it can be complicated, this album is also capable of going simple, such as by playing a lovely, eastern-tinged unaccompanied flute line over wind effects.There's the occasional nod to the more whimsical bits of Gong's past but this is very self-confident, self-contained music. If you like the chaos and scattergun eclecticism of Daevid Allen's (RIP) Gong, this isn't so much for you but as a record under any name, I recommend it very highly.

Missing the endearing lunacy of the Radio Gnome trilogy, "Shamal" is no less interesting. It places the emphasis on the band's ability to weave imaginative and original textures into layered rhythms. The result is an intoxicating excursion into jazz-rock. Gong always seem to be out on their own, no matter what approach they take.They're at their best here on the instrumental passages as Mike Howlett's vocals tend to spoil the flow. "Wingful Of Eyes", which opens the album, is probably the weakest track for this reason, but touches of flute give notice of what is to come. "Chandra" is a delight, notably because of the intricate sax and from here on there's no stopping Gong.As the album progresses, the percussion seems to contribute more and it comes in many layers and shades, from basic drums to xylophone. Indeed, Gong seem to own every known percussive instrument and use them to captivating effect. The rhythms are agile and intricate. If there is one thing that marks Gong out from the crowd it is their dexterity and ingenuity in using textures and timbres that don't occur to other artists.Despite this serious development in their music however they retain a sense of humour, though it's more subtle. "Shamal" is not the easiest album to get into but it ultimately carries you away and bears many repeat playings.

A truly magical album. Didier Malherbe on fire, Mike Howlett AND Pierre Moerlen bringing up the rear in exquisite style.Perenially unfashionable and mentally deranged, this is a masterpiece of late 70's space-jazz-rock-fusion.I do love dear departed Daevid Allen, but Gong turned some of their tricks without him. 10 thumbs up.

other reviews say it all

Its Gong. Nothing else to say but excellent

Good.

Classic Gong LP.