Bright Spirit by Gong, a 2026 album.
On this blog I have celebrated the Gong in many articles, as pioneers of the Canterbury scene and psychedelic rock, with special emphasis on the album I love most in their discography, "You" an essential masterpiece and with insights into the band's mythology, the "Gong Global Family", and with detailed analyses of their works and the extraordinary lives of Daevid Allen and Gilli Smyth.
The album is the third chapter of the trilogy that began with The Universe Also Collapses in 2019 and whose second chapter is Unending Ascending from 2023.
The line-up has been the same since 2015, after the passing of founder Daevid Allen, and it shifted toward a sound focused on psychedelic rock, abstract and modern, and is made up of:
Kavus Torabi on Guitar and Vocals, the frontman and a leading figure in the British psychedelic scene.
Fabio Golfetti on Guitar, a long-time Allen collaborator who carries on the signature Gong glissando sound.
Dave Sturt on Bass, who deftly handles loops and electronics, enriching the rhythm section.
Ian East on Saxophone and Flute, with his jazz digressions and ethereal melodies.
Cheb Nettles on Drums, with great speed and technique.
Bright Spirit celebrates the entity that inhabits space, the spark of awareness that survives chaos. We are not observers of the cosmos, but part of it. Wonder and awe help us transcend reality. The album links Gong’s mythological past to a futuristic vision, a secular and psychedelic spirituality for the 21st century. Musically and lyrically, it’s an invitation to rediscover wonder as an antidote to darkness.
The album blends classic space-rock and modern production, with ethereal guitars, free-jazz sax and a tight rhythm section. The vocals, treated like instruments, add celestial atmospheres to a contemporary prog-rock, catchy yet complex.
“Dream Of Mine”, with its psychedelic pop, is an ethereal track with vocals that create a dreamlike atmosphere. Lovely ballad.
“Mantivule” is an Avant-prog track marked by a complex, jagged structure. Cheb Nettles’ drumming deftly navigates intricate odd meters, while Golfetti’s guitars produce ethereal sounds. Though short, it’s an extremely intense and highly technical piece.
“The Wonderment” ventures into progressive Space-jazz, leaving plenty of room for improvisation. Wonderful is the dialogue between Ian East’s sax and Dave Sturt’s fretless bass. An outstanding track of over 8 minutes.
“Stars In Heaven”, with its clear, sunny psychedelic rock, starts from an enchanting guitar riff that evolves into an airy chorus. The piece has a pop feel and a positive imprint.
“Fragrance Of Paradise” is a track dominated by the band’s Eastern influences, with great glissando guitar and an almost hypnotic sound.
“Relish The Possibility” is a very intense Jazz-fusion track, with a great dialogue between sax and lead guitar.
"Eternal Hand" is a Space-Rock track, majestic and built on vocal harmonies over a steady, energetic beat, with a beautiful fretless bass line by Dave Sturt that dialogues with Kavus Torabi’s guitar.
A return to the psychedelic and cosmic atmospheres that define the band, mixing elements of space-jazz and progressive rock. The current line-up, led by Kavus Torabi, carries on the group’s tradition despite the lack of historic members. A structured record, yet one that gives off an unusual positive energy in today’s progressive rock.
Excellent Album!
My Version
Label: Kscope – KSCOPE1304
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: Europe
Released: 13 Mar 2026
Tracklist
1. Dream of Mine (10:32)
2. Mantivule (6:22)
3. The Wonderment (5:11)
4. Stars in Heaven (4:01)
5. Fragrance of Paradise (7:39)
6. Relish the Possibility (3:09)
7. Eternal Hand (6:48)
Duration 43:42
LineUp
Bass, Vocals – Dave Sturt
Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Cheb Nettles
Guitar, vocals – Fabio Golfetti
Lead vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, synth, harmonium – Kavus Torabi
Saxophone, Percussion, Horns – Ian West
Listening links:
the album is available to listen on all major streaming platforms
- Spotify: Listen to Bright Spirit on Spotify
- Apple Music: Listen to Bright Spirit on Apple Music
- Bandcamp: Listen and buy on Bandcamp
- YouTube Music: Listen on the official YouTube Music channel
- Deezer: Listen to Bright Spirit on Deezer
Note: All links to the musicians’ works are in the TAGS under the article title or on the page "Artists"
