Final chapter of the Gong Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy, here is You, from 1974, an essential masterpiece for the Canterbury Scene and for Progressive Rock as a whole.
This is the Trilogy
- Flying Teapot (Radio Gnome Invisible Part 1)
- Angel's Egg (Radio Gnome Invisible Part 2)
- You
In the third album, Zero is forced for the first time to return from his journey. He asks Hiram the Master Builder how to shape his vision and build his own Invisible Temple. Once this is done, Zero decides he must organize the Great Freak Banquet on the island of Everywhere, in Bali. The party goes well and the Switch Doctor opens everyone’s third eye, except for Zero, who got lost in the pleasures of Earth, namely the Ananda Banana Fruit Cake. Zero missed the whole revelation granted by the third eye and is forced to continue his existence spinning on the cycle of death and rebirth, slowly drawing closer to the Angel’s Egg. This idea recalls, in a way, Buddhist reincarnation.
The trilogy ends, but the music, eternal, remains, because in this "comic" album of the theatre of the absurd, the music is grand, extremely "serious" from the standpoint of composition and performance.
A record that features the band’s best line-up and is also the last studio album with the leader, the magnificent Daevid Allen, before a long period of separation. After leaving the band in 1975 (at the peak of the success of You), Daevid Allen did not play in the “official” Gong for about 17 years, until his return to the studio with the 1992 album Shapeshifter. During this very long break, Allen moved first to Majorca, then to New York and finally to his native Australia. He kept up a frantic artistic activity by founding numerous "spin-off" bands, recording solo records and exploring poetry.
"You" is certainly my favourite Gong and marks the midpoint in the band’s evolution, from a comic anarcho-buddhist collective to a revolutionary jazz-rock outfit; as such it is the best Gong album in my view, being the best of both phases.
Mystical idealism is the main ingredient, thanks to the visionary Daevid Allen. The music is excellent, unique. Steve Hillage, who has always had a melodic and structured approach, here is wilder and more chaotic. Pierre Moerlin on drums and Mike Howlett on bass are extremely incisive. The keyboards and synthesizers of Tim Blake, with their sound that was unique at the time and influenced later dance music. Fantastic sax and flute solos by Didier Malherbe.
Zero the Hero’s journey through the Isle of Everywhere, populated by Stoned Pixies, Radio Gnomes and Octave Doctors, may be Embarrassing for some, but believe me, this trilogy is immense and must be in any collection worthy of the name. Immense Gong (or their pseudonyms from the sleeve notes) in these three surreal works, musically extraordinary.
The Tracks
Thought for Naught – 1:30
A P.H.P.'s Advice – 1:37
Magick Mother Invocation – 2:11
Master Builder – 6:09
A Sprinkling of Clouds – 8:42
Perfect Mystery – 2:25
The Isle of Everywhere – 10:21
You Never Blow Yr Trip Forever – 11:24
Line-Up
Daevid Allen (in the sleeve notes: Dingo Virgin) - vocals, glissando guitar
Steve Hillage - lead guitar
Gilli Smyth (in the sleeve notes: Shakti Yoni) - singing, space whispers
Didier Malherbe (in the sleeve notes: Bloomdido Bad de Grass) - saxophone, flute, vocals
Tim Blake (in the sleeve notes: Hi T Moonweed) - Moog and EMS synthesizers, Mellowdrone
Mike Howlett - electric bass
Pierre Moerlen - drums, percussion
Mireille Bauer - percussion
Benoit Moerlen - percussion
Miquette Giraudy (in the sleeve notes: Bambaloni Yoni) - vocals
Note: All links to the musicians’ works are in the TAGS under the article title or on the "Artists" page
