Rejoice! I'm Dead!... by Gong

Rejoice! I'm Dead! by Gong, 2016 album

This is the first Gong album recorded after the death (leaving an irreplaceable void) of founder Daevid Allen and, about a year later, of his partner Gilli Smyth.

I have spoken at length about the biography of Gong, Daevid Allen and Gilly Smyth in the article dedicated to them in which I describe their fascinating stories and moving legacy.

Rejoice! I'm Dead! is a worthy continuation of the band's legacy after the passing of Daevid Allen, with the classic Gong jazz, cosmic, and psychedelic sound, this time under the guidance of Kavus Torabi. It is a sort of "epitaph" and celebration of Daevid Allen's spirit, featuring his lyrics and even vocal samples.

The band successfully evolves the classic Gong sound, fusing space rock, jazz fusion, and influences from the Canterbury scene, but with modern sounds, featuring great horns from Ian East, guitars from Fabio Golfetti, and a great rhythm section.

The beautiful "The Thing That Should Be" opens the album ethereally, catchy, and with a sometimes psychedelic mood.

Rejoice! is a long piece of classic jazz fusion with splendid saxophone and guitar.

Kapital is an eccentric song, featuring Allen's vocals and a large sax part.

The Unspeakable Stands Revealed is a hypnotic piece, both progressive and jazzy.

Beatrix is ​​a short, very touching tribute featuring Daevid Allen's French vocals.

Allen himself had publicly encouraged the band to continue, and that happened with this album, a work with Canterbury-esque echoes, with tempo changes, Sturt's bass lines, East's sax, and Steve Hillage's beautiful guitar solo on "Rejoice!"—a truly excellent piece.

We always wonder where we will end up after death. This is a thought that has always tormented humanity and has driven the birth and proliferation of religions and scientific and science fiction theories. It's one of those unresolved dilemmas, to which everyone has their own answer, and for which many find a solution in faith. I'm not here to judge such choices, ideas, and beliefs. I personally don't believe in life after death; I hope so. It would be nice to meet our loved ones one day, it would be wonderful, and even our deceased pets after they gave us unconditional love. But I don't believe in it. What I do believe is that we need to give more importance to what we do and leave behind. To the quality of every moment, to the quality of relationships, to the messages we leave behind, to the beauty we are able to see and, where possible, to share, and above all, to the love we know how to create around us. Well, based on these beliefs, I can say that Daevid and Gilli have experienced a world of love, always united in their artistic adventures, but that they have also given so much to all of us. Because art, without a doubt, is love, and a bit of that love is also in this album, which for me is not just a shiny piece of vinyl to listen to, but something more. And I recommend it to you without any ifs or buts.

Note: All links to the musicians' works are in the TAGS under the article title or on the "Artists" page.

Tracklist

1. The Thing That Should Be (03:34)
2. Rejoice! (10:17)
3. Kaptial (3:21)
4. Model Village (6:43)
5. Beatrix (2:54)
6. Visions (4:29)
7. The Unspeakable Stands Revealed (11:49)
8. Through Restless Seas I Come (6:58)
9. Insert Yr Own Prophecy (9:36)

Duration 59:41

LineUp

- Daevid Allen - vocals (5)
- Kavus Torabi (Cardiacs, Knifeworld) - vocals, guitar
- Fabio Golfetti - guitar, vocals
- Ian East - soprano, sopranino, baritone, and tenor saxophones, flute, whistles, bells, shakers
- Dave Sturt (Jade Warrior) - bass, acoustic bass (5), EBow bass (5, 6, 9), keyboards (4, 8), percussion (4), vocals (1, 2, 4, 7)
- Cheb Nettles - drums, percussion (8), vocals (1, 2, 7, 9)

Featuring:
- Graham Clark - violin (1)
- Steve Hillage - lead guitar (2)
- Didier Malherbe - duduk (4, 8)
- Chris Ellis - piano (5)