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Music > Albums > Gong - Gazeuse (1990) Retail CD
added on March 29, 2008, at 22:42 by Sarge!

This album represented a new phase in the evolution of Gong, one which is much maligned and extremeley under-rated. Pierre Moerlen became the dominant musical force in the band from this album on, although his role as a composer was prominent in the previous album 'Shamal'. From this point the band became primarily a jazz-rock fusion group, while still retaining Gong's unique groove and diversity of european and oriental influences.The first track Expresso is a great example of the virtuoisity of the players involved. Pierre Moerlen's drumming is powerful and free flowing. The band as a unit are immensely tight. Benoit Moerlen, surely an unsung hero of the jazz-rock world shines wonderfully throughout on tuned percussion instruments. All the tracks are excellent - but there is a moment during 'Esnuria' where the harmony, groove and precision of the group reaches a point of musical ecstacy.Alan Holdsworth puts in an impressive performance also - the free-flowing circular harmonies, intricate melody lines and funky beats providing the perfect platform for his complex improvisation.It is a very difficult thing to describe the sound of this band in words. They were unique. They utilised musical sounds and textures in a way that nobody else has.'Gazeuse' is really the first album of Pierre Moerlen's Gong, who rightly stand shoulder to shoulder with other more celebrated Jazz rock greats - Weather Report, Soft Machine and Return to Forever. There is no image or gimmick to attract people to this, just amazing, interesting, vibrant music, music for music's sake.Awesome!!If you like this you would also do well to check out the recent music by Gongzilla which is in a very similar vein and contains many of the same musicians including the percussive genius Benoit Moerlen.

front 1421 x 1393 px

back 1785 x 1397 px

cd 1002 x 1014 px

inside 1410 x 1392 px