Monday 26 March 2012

Gong - Downwind (1979)



According to the many online resources, this is the first Pierre Moerlen run Gong album. I thought he had taken over Gong on Expresso II though. But anyway, this is Pierre Moerlen's album.

Downwind offers up a mix of funk, jazz and some pretty commercial songs in the form of What You Know and Emotions. The rest is a jazzy funkfest with a lot of well crafted songs. The album is dominated by vocals, violins, keyboards, bass and a lot of percussion based instruments. Gong on this album included well known names as Hansford Rowe, Didier Malherbe, Mike Oldfield, Steve Winwood and the ex Rolling Stones member Mick Taylor.

The result is a playfull party filled album full of clever interplays and songs. An album which is far from what Daevid Allen once did and I am not so sure if this band has the moral right to call themselves Gong on this album. But there is no denying that this is a great album and one I really like. Gong or no Gong. Then again, I really like what  Pierre Moerlen is doing and all his Gong albums is highly rated by myself. And so is Downwind too. It is a great album.

4 points

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