Gong - Shamal

[zravkapt]

A transitional album, post-Allen but pre-'Pierre Moerlen's Gong'. One of my faves of anything Gong related. What is yer opinion of this sucker?

[Zeuhlmate]

Good tracks - but no coherence - its not really an 'album'

[TheH]

The only non Allen Gong Album I really like.

[Kcrimso]

My favourite Gong album!

[KELLY WELSH]

My favourite Gong album!

+1

[zombywoof]

Terrific album. Play it loud.

[Bytor]

Terrific, awesome and wonderful album. Mason's production is top notch. I have an early pressing and it sounds amaaaaazing

World music before world music, kind of haha

[Scrotum Scissor]

The only non Allen Gong Album I really like.

[Larry Canary]

Excellent album with some cool hooks. Showcases the best rock vibraphone I've heard. Doesn't soar like You does though.

[Phlakaton]

I dig it. Maybe I shall partake now. Tanks!

[zutul]

It's the only Allen-less album that I like too. It's incoherence is due to the fact they were looking for a new direction to go to without Allen.
Steve Hillage and Miqutte were supposed to take over Daevid and Gilly but the success of Fish Rising encouraged them to go on a solo career, so he is just guessing on Shamal, no longer a band member.
Also interesting to note the participation of the late Jorge Pinchevski who was well-known charecter in Argentina's Rock and paticulary Blues scene of the late 60's-early 70's, he contributed greatly especialy to the track 'Cats in Clerk Shoes' he was supposed to continue as a permanent member but like Daevid he had visa problem and had to go back to Argentina.

[Facelift]

Decent enough, but nothing special, IMO. I find all Gong albums to be uneven, so that this one would also be was unsurprising to me. However, I prefer Gazeuse and Espresso II considerably more.

[Progbear]

Weirdly, my first taste of Gong. I had the US pressing with different cover art (photograph of desert dunes instead of a painting). I still have a fondness for it for that very reason. Nice use of percussion, I always like a good violin, and I have no problem with Mike Howlett’s vocals at all (I thought Sandy Colley’s vocal complemented his well on the title tune).

[bill g]

Probably my favorite Gong album. 'Chandra', the 2nd track is definitely my favorite Gong song in their catalogue. Great song. The last two tracks too, really nice.

[LighthouseKeeper]

The first Gong I got was You when it came out and it remains my favorite. At first I was disappointed with Shamal expecting more of the You sound but it grew on me quickly. It is my second favorite Gong.

[Scrotum Scissor]

I think it's a kinda "lost classic" in the overall Canterbury oeuvre, in that it has that quality of internal familiarity that somehow drags you in and keeps you close to heart.

[Bytor]

I think it's a kinda "lost classic" in the overall Canterbury oeuvre, in that it has that quality of internal familiarity that somehow drags you in and keeps you close to heart.

Well said

[strawberrybrick]

I love this album! Love it! Gong minus Allen. Gives an insight to what Paragong may have been.

Be sure to also check out BLOOM from Didier Malherbe because it's musically similar to this album.

[calyx]

I love this album! Love it! Gong minus Allen. Gives an insight to what Paragong may have been.

Well, not really imho. First, Paragong did make recordings, some of which were released (the 1995 CD-EP, plus more in the GAS Tapes series). Also, Paragong had Tim Blake and Steve Hillage. Blake is not on "Shamal" and Hillage makes only a couple of brief guest appearances. Actually, the best document of Paragong is probably "Angels Egg" if you mentally remove the contributions from Allen & Smyth. Indeed, a lot of the album's material was generated during the Paragong period. Which doesn't exactly sound like "Shamal"...

[calyx]

Also interesting to note the participation of the late Jorge Pinchevski who was well-known charecter in Argentina's Rock and paticulary Blues scene of the late 60's-early 70's, he contributed greatly especialy to the track 'Cats in Clerk Shoes' he was supposed to continue as a permanent member but like Daevid he had visa problem and had to go back to Argentina.

That's not quite what happened. First, Pinchevsky did continue as a permanent member and did the entire "Shamal" tour January-May 1976. Several bootlegs exist to prove this. Indeed he was blocked from re-entry into the UK after a customs control returning from the European tour, but he stayed on in France for many years thereafter. He joined the early Gong-Expresso (ca. Spring 1977), and later (1978) did a brief stint in the Forgas Band (just one gig). Before that, he had toured with Clearlight Symphony (UK tour 1975). I understand he spent most of the 1980s living and playing near Grenoble. I wish I'd known as I lived there too and maybe could have seen him play. In his later life he did return to Argentina (probably in the 90s) where he died in 2003.

[happytheman]

The first Gong I got was You when it came out and it remains my favorite. At first I was disappointed with Shamal expecting more of the You sound but it grew on me quickly. It is my second favorite Gong.

Likewise for me.. a friend of mine picked up Shamal, You and Expresso on the same day and together we listened to our first Gong ever.. granted we knew nothing about Gong at the time so had no reference point.. I guess Expresso was recently released to give you a time frame.. we both loved You and Shamal.. after listening to Expresso we both wanted to know more about Allan Holdsworth.. I believe Flying Teapot was where we went next (great artwork) then it was open season for all things Gong... Gong Live etc. Continental Circus, etc.
Still enjoy spinning Shamal every now and then.. nice flavoring..

[rael74]

Showcases the best rock vibraphone I've heard.

Dead right. I adore this album, like Steely Dan, it feels so lush and warm.

It's a shame in a way that Hillage didn't allow Gong to release Fish Rising and Shamal as a blended double album (this would very much have suited 1975!)

This is maybe how it could have sounded...



* Post Edit * - I've just been listening to the Paragong stuff on Youtube - this is amazing. Can I buy more of these recordings? Can people recommend other bands doing this sort of trippy hippy jazz?

[groon]

That's not quite what happened. First, Pinchevsky did continue as a permanent member and did the entire "Shamal" tour January-May 1976. Several bootlegs exist to prove this.

Yep, that's right. My first taste of Gong live was on the Shamal tour, the Sussex Uni gig, and Pinchevsky was definitely playing with the band that night. An excellent evening's entertainment it was, too.

[happytheman]

It's the only Allen-less album that I like too. It's incoherence is due to the fact they were looking for a new direction to go to without Allen.
Steve Hillage and Miqutte were supposed to take over Daevid and Gilly but the success of Fish Rising encouraged them to go on a solo career, so he is just guessing on Shamal, no longer a band member.
.

I've got a recording from Shamal tour where Hillage adds a couple of his Fish Rising songs to the set list..

Sept 75 London

01 Aftaglid
02 Oily Way > 6/8
03 Solar Musick Suite
04 Bambooji
05 The Isle Of Everywhere
06 Get It Inner
07 Wingful Of Eyes
08 The Salmon Song

[calyx]

I've got a recording from Shamal tour where Hillage adds a couple of his Fish Rising songs to the set list.

Actually it would be more appropriate to call this the "Fish Rising" tour as "Shamal" hadn't been recorded yet although its future components were performed in embryonic versions on the Autumn 1975 tour. "Shamal" was the outcome of Hillage's departure, taking with him both the "Fish Rising" material and the songs he had initially intended for the next Gong album, which were re-worked and appeared on "L" ("Electrick Gypsies", parts of "Lunar Musick Suite"...).