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Gong - Shapeshifter (special)

SKU 11-Viceroy 8032
This 1996 album was the first Gong album after the band reformed and did some touring in the early-mid 1990's. It includes important long-timers Daevid Allen- guitar & vocals, Didier Malherbe-reeds and Pip Pyle-drums, plus Keith Bailey- bass, Graham Clark-violin, Shumal Maitra-ethnic percussion + guests Gilli Smyth, Steffi Sharpstrings and Twink. This manages to update the classic Gong sound in a satisfactory way which doesn't destroy their essence. I thought that this was a surprisingly great reunion disc.

"A really nice piece of work, and proof that Daevid Allen and Gong have continued to evolve and grow while remaining true to their musical vision. As others have said, it does have a somewhat inconsistent quality, but this is partly because it utilizes so many diverse musical idioms. Let's face it: some albums we approach as if to a meal, and others we approach as if it were the appetizer table. This album is the latter. And appetizers abound here! Gong shifts shape from one song to the other, and as far as I'm concerned, that's its main strength. But what really strikes me about the album is its sense of whimsy , and its lighthearted --yet serious-- outlook on life. And there are space jams a-plenty to satisfy fans of Teapot-era Gong, like myself. And I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to Gong newcomers as a first taste of this great, always-evolving band."-Peter Williams



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