I See You by Gong, album from 2014.
About Gong, the Life and death of Daevid Allen and his companion in life and music Gilli Smyth, I have spoken at length in the article “Rejoice! I'm Dead!... The Gong, Life and Death of Daevid and Gilli”
This is their thirteenth album and the tenth and last album with Daevid Allen unfortunately, recorded before his death in March 2015. The album marks a return of the band to the sound of their masterpieces, blending cosmic psychedelia and the progressive jazz-rock of their classics (as in You from the Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy) thus maintaining the Gong "trademark": spacey sounds, surreal humor, mystical lyrics, a sort of natural evolution of their sound, connecting the '60s and the jazz-rock/prog of the '70s.
Beautiful flutes, spacey atmospheres, visionary lyrics, and complex structures.
Gilli Smyth is present as a guest and Steve Hillage's guitar is missing Steve Hillage even though the sound remains decidedly recognizable with a solid lineup that then continued the Gong legacy with Daevid Allen on vocals and guitar, Gilli Smyth with her "Space whispers" (whispered voice), Orlando Allen on drums and production (Daevid's son), Kavus Torabi on guitar (formerly of Cardiacs and current frontman of the band), Fabio Golfetti on guitar, Ian East on saxophone and flute, and finally Dave Sturt on bass
It is a record that is in fact perfectly in line with Gong's discography, despite the passing of the years it contains tracks all at a high level and among these an absolute masterpiece on side C of three, this version in fact is pressed on three sides with the fourth unpressed: "Zion My T-shirt" a melancholic and intense piece, it's impossible not to think of the passing of its author while listening to it.
The Eternal Wheel Spins is beautiful, an epic track with guitars reminiscent of Robert Fripp's style and Occupy, an energetic track inspired by social protest movements but also Thank You, a psychedelic blues ballad that is a moving farewell from Allen to his fans and collaborators, and This Revolution which is a short spoken interlude in the style of Gil Scott-Heron that underscores the band's ever-present political commitment.
One of the most significant albums in their discography, with a modern sound but faithful to the anarchic and bizarre spirit of their origins, their final masterpiece.
A fabulous album.
Note: All links to the musicians' works are in the TAGS below the article title or on the "Artists" page
Tracklist
1. I See You (3:33)
2. Occupy (2:54)
3. When God Shakes Hands with the Devil (5:40)
4. The Eternal Wheel Spins (7:04)
5. Syllabub (4:32)
6. This Revolution (3:50)
7. You See Me (2:40)
8. Zion My T-shirt (6:18)
9. Pixielation (4:42)
10. A Brew of Special Tea (1:22)
11. Thank You (10:35)
12. Shakti Yoni & Dingo Virgin (9:30)
Duration 62:40
LineUp
- Daevid Allen - glissando guitar, vocals, co-producer
- Kavus Torabi (Knifeworld) - guitar
- Fabio Golfetti - guitar
- Ian East - soprano, alto and tenor saxophone, flute, whistle
- Dave Sturt - bass, computer sampling, co-producer
- Orlando Allen - drums, vocals (4), co-producer
With:
- Gilli Smyth - vocals
- Mark Robson - keyboards (11)
