Classical Composer Reacts to Gong (Flying Teapot - Side 1) | Weird Wednesday | The Daily Doug

[@craigward2710]

The trilogy just gets better and better, Doug. Hillage integrated more into the band and revealed himself to be a truly sensational guitarist (Isle of Everywhere from You (part 3) has one of the most sublime guitar solos you will ever hear). They also acquired a sensational drummer, Pierre Moerlen. The percussion work on Angel's Egg is astonishing. Please continue through the trilogy.

[@gladtobeangry]

Absolutely agree. All three are sublime albums, but the finale "You" is a masterpiece surpassing the other two in its musical motives and structure. It just builds and builds, like a Master Builder. It's a Perfect Mystery to me how they managed to put it all together into this insane infusion until all the characters of planet Gong leave you with this last and little song. You'll never blow your trip on "You". Why don't you try?

[@chuckhamilton7814]

Don't let the silliness fool you -- behind all of that, these guys could flat-out PLAY.

[@wallbangerreactions]

The third album in the trilogy, "You," is very sophisticated and great. Trippy, jazzy, spiritual...with great synth work.

[@guitarchannel5676]

Hi T Moonweed (Tim Blake) is an incredible electronic musician.

[@vihtorisuominen1939]

My favorite album from their discography!

[@opinion3742]

@@vihtorisuominen1939 I have a soft spot for Angel's Egg - but that may be because I listened to it during my first acid trip.

[@chuckhamilton7814]

You is an absolutely fantastic album. One of my favorites.

[@ajn465]

The whole trilogy is majick!

[@jabu003]

You are approaching Henry Cow ......... in the meanwhile i hadn´t heard this on decades, nice to listen back .

[@UdiKoomran]

I am a Gong freak since I was 12 ( that was in 1974) and this music has been with me all my life And I must confess I do not care for reaction videos but you actually enlightened me Clearly you feel the music AND have the knowledge of analyzing it in a thoughtful intriguing manner Thank you so much

[@danielblake8956]

I must say Gong is in my top 20 music groups. I have Origanal copy of same album you played; its a kind of Heaven 😊. I saw Gong play in Nottingham in their later years,was a good memorable evening & night. I would have like to have been at more of their live performances 😊 I even imagined a couple more albums they never made; maybe they'll be eventually made in Gong.......we will seeeeeear some days ahead😊

[@spyr01d]

Finally Gong. So underrated band.

[@nsgobbi]

More unknown than underrated. And never underrated for those who know them.

[@mickyfen2]

@@nsgobbi Exactly. This is my 1st listen.

[@metalmark1214]

Fun to bang a Gong🤣

[@zerothehero76]

I agree, as much as you can understand from my username :)

[@matto9734]

Not by me ;-)

[@peteharper2687]

I've loved Gong since I was a teenager, I'm in my 60s now and I still love them. The world needs more Pothead Pixies and their Teapot Taxis. Gong always had a fantastic line up of musicians including such people as Steve Hillage, Pierre Moerlen, Mike Howlett, Pip Pyle, Didier Malherbe.

[@misterghee1]

Here uh here and or there I am you where you here weird all there

[@carwynevans4870]

Keep going Dude. The trilogy is a genuine work of art. Stands alone as a thing that’s unparalleled. Genius music

[@mattmarsden3896]

Agreed

[@jayceneal5273]

underneath all the craziness theres a killer jazz fusion band in Gong. Mike Howlett and Piere Moerlen are easily one of the most legendary rhythm sections ive heard. "You" is when they really get their chance to shine

[@jagmiddleton]

lets not forget pip pyle

[@eyesofchild]

This was so joyously entertaining, to watch Doug trying to make heads or tails of Gong, like I once did many moons ago. It's a deliberate deprogramming process they set us up on, which I initially fought, myself. But the mind that already believes it has the answers is not exactly open to receive what life truly offers. The joy Gong shares becomes infectious and we recognize it's intentionality as deeply loving. Oh, and they can play!!! The RGI trilogy is essential Gong. Many blessings on your "Gong journey", Doug. For sure, it will be light. Banana nirvana mañana!

[@Spirit-Of-The-Age]

I got introduced to Gong just as I became fully tuned into Hawkwind's amazing back catalogue (from 1970 to mid 80's) , and as someone highlighted to me , 'Gong are about 'inner space'......Hawkwind were / are more about 'outer space' and what's physically happening in the world) ..very true when you hear both bands work from when they began and certainly throughout the 70's and into the 80's even with Hawkwind....both bands are legendary and played from the heart and wanted people to wake up to the importance of living in 'real community' in harmony with Mother Nature , and to not fall into the traps of 'corporate consumerism' and the ensuing 'corporate dystopia' being spewed out everywhere by the corrupt establishment !

[@mysticsistEire]

Gong are more than a band ..they're a family ❤ I've belonged since 1990 ..

[@bertkarlsson1421]

Finally Gong!! One of the best bands ever!!!

[@keltyk]

The band centred around the fantasy visions of Daevid Allen... a kind of Australian beatnik, who morphed into a wigged out hippie freak. He was probably responsible for birthing 'The Canterbury Scene'... A bunch of related bands and musicians with quite far reaching impact on European prog-jazz- Soft Machine were the spark.. and Allen was a founder member of that band. You also had Caravan, Hatfield and the North, National Health, Matching Mole, Robert Wyatt... Egg... It's a history that runs back to the early 1960s, and may still just be hanging on today among elderly survivors. The sax player, Didier Malherbe / Blumdido was a very special component of Gong. When he wasn't in the band, something vital was missing. Just wasn't the same. Gong somehow attracted the most excellent musicians. They also have an early history from the late 60s that's more obscure, raw, crazy, primitive, far less virtuosity, but never the less, still in a class of its own. Attached to that too, the first 3 or 4 solo albums by Allen are also something special and highly original

[@michaellynch2497]

Steve Hillage - Green, amazing guitar and guitar/synth sounds backed up by an amazing rhythm section.

[@jonibz1456]

Yeah Green is great, Rainbow Dome Music was my first really ambient record, before ambient was really a thing.

[@Naflemac]

Met him hours before Gong's concert in Skien, Norway 1974. He and his girlfriend asked for a place they could eat dinner. Around 40 years later I met him again before Gong's concert in Oslo. He did not remember me, but I remembered him, he had just shorter hair haha.

[@daze1945]

Steve Hillage was so amazingly influential and inventive. I saw Gong perform several times and have all their albums but I think future jazz may sum it up. 40+years later! LOL 🤩

[@avantprog6902]

I love love love the Canterbury scene. Steve started with Uriel which became Egg when he left. Dave joined Him on Khan and Fish Rising.

[@dannylgriffin]

Steve Hillage is great. Doug should be listening to Hillage rather than Gong. Or Camel. Or...

[@BassGoBomb]

Yeah, I saw them a couple of times, they gave me a copy of Camembert Electrique, vinyl, of course .. I was only a school kid but I loved it and have remained a fan ever since... :-)

[@Spirit-Of-The-Age]

Steve Hillage is still going as strong as ever...On top of his amazing solo albums and the work he did with Gong, he launched his System 7 project and has been raving ever since..He also has had a recent spell with the mighty Hawkwind (another band that people need to inform Doug of ,as they are one of the most important bands ever, and indeed Gong and Hawkwind ,and all their offshoots, were the 'core' of the ongoing 'counter culture' throughout the 70's , 80's, 90's and into the 00's and up to present day)

[@dannylgriffin]

@@Spirit-Of-The-Age I'm a Hawkwind fan as well! I believe we've mentioned Hawkwind to Doug before on several occasions.

[@alexfinch8841]

The drummer Pierre Moerlen’s Gong is also an incredible experience - anything off the album Shamal (produced by Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason) is a stone cold masterpiece

[@interstellarwarpdrive9600]

Epic!

[@gurugeorge]

I love the way he keeps deciding to have another puff to make more sense of it lol The "eerie sound" you noticed was a technique Hillage invented called "glissando guitar" - if you take a metal tube such as you'd use for slide guitar or blues guitar, and rub it gently back and forth (quite fast, like semiquavers or faster) _across_ the strings of an amplified electric guitar, i.e. transverse to the strings, rather than up and down the strings (as you'd do if you were doing slide), you get this eerie glistening, shimmering sound. And then you can combine the two things - do the transverse rubbing _while_ sliding up and down the strings as well, as you'd do with slide guitar - then that eerie glissando sound ensues. Add echo and other fx to taste you and you have an amazing, rich sound made really quite simply. Re. the musicianship - I think a fair few in the band were jazzers as well, so they had chops and they were able to interject the use of modes and occasional complex harmonic structures.

[@fusionfan6883]

If you haven't already, you must check out Steve Hillage and his amazing run of albums after he left Gong. Green, Motivation Radio and Live Herald are definitely worth starting with. Steve wrote the book on trippy guitar, but his playing and compositions are incredibly original and sophisticated. And what a great live act too! Another totally unique band to check out is the one and only Magma, who even invented their own language!

[@Geohouli]

Was so lucky to see them live in 2009 at The Picture House, Edinburgh, Scotland with most of the classic line up. Steve Hillage, Mike Howlett and Daevid Allen were simply outstanding. The whole band were superb musicians. No comparable band exists today.

[@allandrysdale1100]

Oh man..was at this show too with Hillage opening.... probably one of the most transcendental and emotional trips of my life. At one point both me and my mate felt "elevated" into another realm. A full day of toking and trying to make our own music prior to gig probably helped.....☺️🤭✌️🙏🏽

[@IanHillan]

Gong Live, Etc. is one of my all-time favorite albums. It elevates these songs and many others and showcases some superb musicianship throughout. Been listening to it for 45 years and literally never get tired of it. It's kinda hard to find streaming but if you can pick up the vinyl or a CD grab it with both hands. It's a remarkable piece of work. And Steve Hillage is underappreciated (though totally appreciated by those who have heard him))

[@jonibz1456]

Listening this Gong and then Steve Hillage was what eventually led me to buy my first slow techno based record, which was The Orb's Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld as it had Steve Hillage playing on it.

[@Njal55]

This was my dad's favourite album. He bought it when it was released and I've been listening to it for nearly 50 years. Brilliant stuff.

[@chrisgoddard9236]

A bit tenuous, but, the current incarnation of Gong includes the guitarist Kavus Torabi. He was previously in the band Cardiacs. Well worth a reaction! "Tarred and feathered", "R.E.S.", "Dirty Boy".

[@pierodavies9508]

Gilli was Welsh. Certainly opened my mind musically, back then. Pierre's (Pierre Moerlen's Gong) later efforts with Alan Holdsworth, Hansford Rowe etc, are more than worth a listen.

[@alexfinch8841]

Espresso II and Shamal. Two of the greatest albums ever made and no one ever mentions them - well said!!

[@pierodavies9508]

@@alexfinch8841 Yes, they are gems. There is so much incredible music out there. I will never get to it all in my lifetime.

[@ianmc8671]

Fantastic band. Great Reaction. Please do the whole trilogy. It gets even better. Nothing I enjoy more than listening to the whole trilogy in one sitting in the small hours, but I understand you can only do one side at a time. Daevid Allen and Gilli Smythe were visiting Robert Graves, the writer, in Mallorca when they stumbled upon Didier Malherbe living in a cave and they decided to create Gong, so the story goes.

[@OAlem]

I had a feeling that Spain was going to be involved somehow. 🤣Every day here is like living in a Dali painting.

[@JulioLeonFandinho]

@@OAlem Many british and german hippies went to Mallorca and Ibiza and the Sun Coast during the 60s and 70s. Nowadays brits and germans keep coming to Spain, but no more hippies, just drunken sods 😆🤦‍♂🙄

[@jonathandavies639]

Gong! LOVE it. Amazing musicians and always makes me smile. Silly and deep at the same time.

[@forfar1956]

I don't know how long I've waited for someone to react to Gong - and you are exactly the right Person to do it 👏👏👏 I love Gong, but for wierd the krautrock band Faust's first album called Faust is not bad. They use a cement mixer as an instrument for heaven's sake 😆

[@daveapple205]

I saw FAUST in concert about 10 years ago in Asheville, North Carolina! One of the best shows I have ever seen. I have most of their albums. Love them.

[@semchen9]

I have seen Faust here, in San Francisco, a few times in the past several years. They also utilized the occasional "knitting Needle clanks", up front and Center. (A Woman of similar Age, knitting, God who knows what, sitting on a Chair, there, for no apparent reason.)

[@gerardodoherty9178]

@Dennis O'Shea I believe they used it to make music concrete.

[@moraysimpson2710]

Borrowed my brothers really poorly taped copy of this as a kid, was entranced, despite the awful sound quality of the BASF tape. Bought the album on vinyl, a few years latter, and was overjoyed with the audio quality compared to that old tape. Weirdness abounds, with love, ideally listened to with the herb as you quite rightly demonstrated, or as some do with a cup of mushroom tea. Got to see the Mothergong incarnation in a small club in Edinburgh during the late 80s. Longest gig I've ever been to, four hours of wonderfulness. We the audience sat cross legged on the floor, rolling and sharing joints, listening to a group of musicians pushing the limits. Saw the latest incarnation, post David, in 2019, supporting Steve Hillage, what a wonderful night that was. I have enjoyed your thoughts on music, with this and your reaction to Pat Metheny, being particularly personal to me. Keep on keeping on.

[@PlutoniumBoss]

It feels very Zappa, with the tight musicianship, intricate percussion, and the way the lyrics are woven into the soundscape as another instrument.

[@aardvaarkmaark]

I definitely agree. Like Frank, Gong combined great musicianship with out there, insane and funny concepts.

[@misterghee1]

Of my rockrrrrrr

[@TheBigBosske]

Gong is much better than Zappa. Much more light-hearted and funny; don't forget Zappa was an (humanist) conservative and totally anti-drugs and many of his songs are misogynist; antichurch or politics. Same music but def. not the same vibe :)

[@peczenyj]

I think there are moments like the first Pink floyd album

[@Spirit-Of-The-Age]

The teapot is fueled by 'shrooms' 👌😎🪐🌛🌻 And everyone will enjoy the rest of the journey on the rest of this album and onto 'Angels Egg' , then onto 'You' 👌🙏

[@viinikellari]

The intro fill for "The isle of everywhere" is superb! : ) I love these drum sounds. Bring em back!

[@burmesecolourneedles4680]

So glad you did this Doug! PLEASE continue with the trilogy! Unique amongst prog rock and psych bands for all sorts of reasons, unhinged (or should that be uber-hinged) and blissfully wonderful.

[@SpookyLuvCookie]

You talk of their musicianship and composing/arranging skills. In my opinion each of the albums tops the previous one. And side B of part III (You) is simply a beautiful way to finish. Hope to see more Gong on your channel. btw "Have a cup of tea" is slang for having a reefer. And here's a quote about Gong (if memory serves, from The KLF) when they first started listening to the band. "Gong were a cheesecake, in a world seemingly only filled with baked beans."

[@jackstrawful]

omg, I’ve been wanting you to do Gong for so long. My mom’s boyfriend, an old-school hippy from Santa Cruz (picture a 60 year old white dude with dreadlocks) introduced me to them, Gong’s his favorite band. I describe Gong thusly: if Pink Floyd was a Pokémon, Gong is what they’d evolve into. 😄

[@macsnafu]

"Have a cup of tea, have another one; Have a cup of tea"!

[@ScottAlexander-p2r]

Boil a few hundred mushrooms, squeeze em good in a hankie , then add tea bags ,sugar , milk and get that Doon yer aesophagus . Then welcome to planet gong . Happy daze x

[@AJGeeTV]

40 years ago as a student in England I'd put this LP on, put the headphones on, light my joint and this would blow my mind away totally. It was still buzzing through my head as I did my part-time job the following morning driving the school bus.

[@jujulala81]

"Tasteful bass playing" by Francis Moze, who was once in Magma ! These band used to tour together, they were like the yin and the yang!

[@MrMikeIliff]

Slightly late commenting on this but this episode is the funniest one I have watched. Absolutely hysterical. So thanks for this Doug. I was (still like the music) a big Gong fan, had all the albums and saw them perform at the Rainbow Theatre in London. Exceptionally weird! It wasn’t at all surprising that they morphed totally into a jazz band with Pierre Moerlen’s Gong with Alan Holdsworth on guitar. I think I’m right in saying that Steve Hillage (Stevie Hillside Village) played Tubular Bells with the London Philharmonic at the Albert Hall. On the BBC I think it was. So, full orchestra, with Steve playing guitar wearing his hat - superb! The funniest thing is that I’m now 67 with grandkids, and so when Doug says (8:50) ‘Kids, your grandparents were nuts’ he is not wrong. So funny. I sent the episode to my son. The 1970’s was an exceptional period for music. I’m still stuck in the 70’s :-) All that’s to say is: ‘Have a cuppa tea, have another one, have a cuppa tea.’ Enjoy.

[@chris4973]

One of your lps on the wall is Yes’ Close To The Edge. That was the last lp their original drummer, Bill Bruford played on. When he left, who did he join? Gong. He went on to play with King Crimson before forming his own band Earthworks. The talent Gong had over the years was phenomenal

[@mazmarsden7386]

This takes me back - got to this in about 1978….and listened to it in a very similar way to you, but in a darkened room, lying down, with eyes shut. Great to hear again, but only for a certain mood - one that doesn’t come around too often. Proper Potheads!

[@IntheCourtoftheCrimsonKing]

I love the music you cover Doug and your learned reactions. Awesome!

[@timflatus]

The Radio Gnome Story underpins a trilogy of Albums - Flying Teapot, Angel's Egg and You and pops its head up in other places. The band mutinied against the obsessive storyline after You. There is a strong influence from Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism as well as authors like Gurdjieff and Blavatsky. They were incredibly well-read, so there are lots of literary references. Her name is pronounced "Jilly" soft "g" - Hard "g" in "gnome" though. They were incredibly musically literate - they loved those chromatic thirds, check "Isle of Everywhere", they were also extremely talented players. I'm glad you're listening to the 2018 remaster, the original mix wasn't so good (apparently sounded great in the studio). The eery violin-like sound in Flying Teapot is Daevid's gliss technique on guitar - bowing it with a metal bar through lots of effects. The story here is this is the first visit of the flying teapot to earth at Easter 1966. They meet Laurence the Alien in Tibet and everyone gets groovy, that's Laurence freaking out at the end. It gets more complicated later. There is a small amount on KZbin of this era - "Never Glid Before", just search "Gong live". Watching you mind blown by one of my favourite pieces of music was such a joy! Thank you

[@Skiamakhos]

You missed the best Gong track, which is on Live Floating Anarchy 1977, "Allez Ali Baba Black Sheep Have You Any Bullshit / Mama Maya Mantram", a 15 minute epic that is like an audio version of a mushroom trip. Honestly blew my mind when I heard it in 1987.

[@lessmith3755]

I'd encourage you to explore the rest of the trilogy. There were personnel changes during this time, and the chops go through the roof.

[@jimehman8547]

Thanks for doing this one. Gong is awesome. Even if you don’t do the whole trilogy, I would recommend listening to the album “You”. It is a lot more approachable. Also, you really need to take a dive into Steve Hillage’s solo work at one point. He guitar playing is just amazing.

[@einarassipavicius1991]

That title track is simply a masterpiece. It's been a long time I've heard this trilogy. Actually, my favourite Gong is when Allen had just left, to be more exact, first two albums after his departure: Shamal and Gazeuse! They're basically a much saner version of jazz-fusion. Musicianship on those albums are unbelievable. Really looking forward to more Gong reactions in the future.

[@blackmoofou6385]

That droning sound at the start of track 2 is using a curved metal bar to gently rub the strings of a guitar. It was something Syd Barrett first did but Daevid took it to the next level he called it 'glisssando guitar' although it's not strictly that in classical terms. The bassline on track 2 and those single stroke drums by Laurie Allen get me every time.

[@adrianking475]

Great stuff- you have to listen to the whole trilogy- especially the last album “You” - one of the best albums of the 70’s with 2 epic guitar solos. More to the point Gong always make me smile.

[@timcam8713]

My mate and I saw Gong twice in Bristol UK in the 70's, they were incredible. I've loved them ever since 😮

[@jonibz1456]

Wow! was not expecting to see this reacted anywhere, fair play :)

[@chriskellas2902]

My college roommate turned me on to Gong back in the early 80's and I've been hooked ever since, probably my favorite band of all time! after getting my degree in audio engineering I was lucky enough to meet and do some work with Daevid Allen, such a wonderful and unique human being, love you for ever and ever, RIP Daevid!

[@srobg1956]

What a treat! Haven’t pulled out my Gong LP’s in like forever. Glad to see other Gong residents out there.

[@hugonotti9192]

great to see someone enjoying this for the first time. I bought the record somewhere in the end of the seventies and it never occurred to me, that it was weird :D Well, it was a mind opener, I didn't even need any drugs (nor ever after) !

[@maxkiller2738]

The Drums on this album OMG :) I used to be a fan when i was high up in my teens in the late 1990s, i even saw them live in a Reunion tour in EU with their prodigy the Ozric Tentacles... They did some good free/fusion jazz albums later also. More down to earth stuff... Just amazing Musicians. The "whalling" continious sound (sounding like strings) is made by stroking the strings on the electric guitar with a metal circular piece (screw driver, beer can) , it's just like a violin bow.

[@harmonic3350]

You almost can't not flip over that record and see what awaits on the other side of this mysterious planet, flying in the teapot.

[@robparker7856]

Enjoyed your reaction to Gong, Doug. - This band are an incredible and under-rated institution. The albums get weirder and better as the mythology progresses. I first heard this album in the early 70s. I saw the latest incarnation of the band in York UK last year and they were utterly brilliant . As you say the musicianship is amazing and the whole myth/story /culture is enticing and beguiling - hope you enjoy them as much as I have over the last 50 years !

[@lilaelsi5766]

I can hear how Gong influenced the earliest works of Porcupine Tree (assembled on On the Sunday of Life and Yellow Hedgerow Dreamscape)…

[@DaveLennonCopeland]

I love Gong, they're literally fantastic. Your reaction is priceless and excellent. 😃🎶🎸

[@Tuzilla]

I am glad you got to them. There are so many underrated European bands from back in the day. Gong is a perfect example.

[@jeffreygould101]

Nice reaction, Doug. I think you may finally be ready for The Residents, perfect for another Weird Wednesday!

[@oskarvikstrom229]

Yes, and Snakefinger as well!

[@RobtSc]

And also some Renaldo and the Loaf. Maybe, The Elbow is Taboo.

[@danclark745]

God just wanted to be an ordinary deity - Fingerprince is a great album...chew chew gum chew gum gum

[@JennyDavala]

20:20 “The tea’s gotta be caffeinated, right?” No

[@GhibliFan1]

Welcome aboard the Teapot, Doug. I've loved this band forever. Also still going with the musicians who were working with Daevid up to his leaving this place - led by Kavus Torabi of The Cardiacs fame, and they are absolutely sensational. Daevid insisted Gong is a more about the philosophy than the people, and the Teapot definitely still flies high in 2023. ✌️

[@rodneygriffin7666]

Turn off your mind, relax and float downstream.😂 👍✌️♥️

[@iainmorrice7250]

I was very stoned in 1974 or thereabouts when I spotted this album and simply had to have it, I've not been the same since. These guys along with Hawkwind, Tangerine Dream etc. moulded my young mind. They are still going strong and I've seen them many times over the years and they are always entertaining although they have changed a bit since the 70s.

[@karlhoward2737]

Iain….your message is exactly the way I feel….I got into Hawkwind age 10 in 1972, Tangerine Dream in 1974 and Gong in 1975…moulded my life ….and even now, I still love these bands…..I’d add one more band, got into them in 1978….the brilliant German band Eloy…..great to know there are so many like minded Pot Heds out there….oh must not forget Here & Now…..cheers..

[@grahamnunn8998]

The lovely thing about Gong is even at their weirdest the musicianship is tremendous and they could really groove. As mentioned above, later albums took them into the realms of Jazz Rock.

[@johnfotohouse]

I saw this line up of Gong in 1975 at a ‘free’ gig at Manchester University, astounding and memorable, then again a year or two later at a festival with a different line up. I saw the current version of Gong in Leeds pre Covid and they were so good it reminded me of being a teenager again! Thanks Doug for giving this a go!

[@SubCapt]

At the very beginning, "invisible" is pronounced the way it is in French, approximatively "arnveezeebl" to an english speaker. The bass plaxer here, Francis Moze, can also be heard on Magma's first two albums.

[@PatMetheny1980]

Thanks for doing this album! I totally think you should do the whole trilogy, plus the album after that named Shamal which is beautiful in its own special way.

[@IanMurray-rq4rx]

Great review. I've been listening to that album all my days & never thought someone as old & brilliant as Bertrand Russell could have inspired it. Top drawer Doug.. Keep smokin ✌

[@jameswarner5809]

The current incarnation of Gong are very good, maintaining the legacy that Daevid Allen was happy to pass on to them before he died. Gong isn't a specific group of people, it's a state of mind. I will also take this opportunity to once again encourage you to check out Cardiacs for a Weird Wednesday band, specifically their track Dirty Boy with it's quirky key changes, epic build-up and preposterously protracted ending.

[@SteveJ0966]

Hah, seconded. Not for nothing does current Gong (last I checked at least) feature Kavus from Cardiacs.

[@philrichards7240]

I'm always a bit conflicted recommending a "first" Cardiacs album... any one of the following common recommendations have their own positives: "The Seaside" (original edition, obviously), "A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window", or "Sing to God". And it gets harder picking a single song: some people insist it must be "R.E.S.", some "Is this the Life?", some "Dirty Boy", etc. Each very different, and each with a very different appeal to people who haven't heard Cardiacs before...

[@morbidorbits]

Cardiacs +1

[@jameswarner5809]

@@SteveJ0966 Indeed it does. Kavus posted a photo of himself recording some vocals for the new album on Facebook the other day.

[@jameswarner5809]

@@philrichards7240 I think Sing To God is the most complete (double) album. My favourite track is Fiery Gun Hand, which I would love to see Doug react to, but I think Dirty Boy would probably be the best introduction because of the almost classical structure and the vocal arrangement. Glad that some people have backed me up at last. We have to get Doug to listen to Cardiacs.

[@ericarmstrong6540]

The "found sound" you referenced is glissando guitar. Daevid Allen achieved the effect by rubbing a small rounded metal device on the guitar strings to create the humming sound with the guitar that pervades the entire second track above all the other instruments and in the background

[@richardhillage3981]

Cool very cool. Doug you need react wirh Steve Hillage "Aftaglid" from Fish Rising. This guitarrist was Gong. You will love it

[@zella417bcarter9]

Its just dull and boring. LOL

[@TonyBailey-xf5tn]

They were often called "the French Hawkwind". Their first album "Camembert Electrique" is a classic. Treat yourself to a listen.

[@Spirit-Of-The-Age]

Very true, and Gong and Hawkwind always had a strong bond with each other...they both fought for the same 'counter culture' to try and make the world a better place...just did so using different musical styles and each style was unique and genius with amazingly powerful and important lyrics...they never wanted fame nor riches..they were / are the soundtrack to a wholesome alternative to the corrupt corpoate dystopian consumerist bullshit around. 😎👌✌✊🙏

[@JimNewstead]

Awesome!!!!! Love love LOVE this record! Steve Hillage is one of the best.

[@jitgr]

Gong, an amalgam of musicianship and anarchy, keep on Doug! Some trivia: Gong, Soft Machine and Magma had same producer: Giorgio Gomelski. Gong and Magma, two completely different bands, musically and philosophically, were often performing live one after another. Daevid Allen prior to founding Gong was among founders of Soft Machine.

[@blankreg3858]

Thank you Doug. Your reaction was exactly as I imagined it would be and I'm glad you had a little "Bloomdido Bad de Grass" to enjoy it with.

[@raydiognome]

Now you’re here and now you’re Gong now you’re back where you belong! Glad to enjoy you expanding your musical horizons. As others have said you must travel further. Thanks Doug

[@gerardboyle5753]

Saw Gong many many times both the old (original) and the new. However the highlight has to be their playing The Isle of Everywhere for nearly 30 minutes solid. The Tunnels in Glasgow blew its trip that night. Amazing and astonishing in equal measure

[@patmcmacken1435]

What a quote " not even the weed prepared me for that."

[@5pp000]

Excellent timing! I heard this for the first time just a few days ago. Yes, please do more!

[@Spirit-Of-The-Age]

Great to hear the mighty 'Gong' are being reviewed by Doug here 👌👌👌....Surely we are now finally closer to him being recommended the mighty Hawkwind (and please don't recommend Silver Machine ffs) ...The whole 1st side of The Warrior On The Edge Of Time album would be a highly interesting place for Doug to start with Hawkwind..it has a bit of everything in it (as do most Hawkwind albums from their golden years of 1970 to mid 80's)PS ; Tim Blake and Steve Hillage also played with Hawkwind more recently and the original Hawkwind band members hung out alot with Gong members from the late 60's onwards... The 'cat with the groovy silver face' that Jimi Hendrix spoke of on stage ,during pretty much his last live gig at Isle Of Wight festival in 1970 , was indeed Nik Turner of Hawkwind and the guy standing next to Nik and hanging out with him was Tim Blake of Gong. Hawkwind pretty much launched their career at that festival and became known as the ultimate 'people's band' as they played for free outside the gates of the Isle Of Wight festival in a large inflatable marquee, and shared out LSD everywhere.

[@JohnSongwriter54]

I went to see Gong in about 1975 at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester. A very entertaining concert with probably the best drum solo I've ever witnessed!

[@richarddrakes619]

Gong have connections to the underground ‘Canterbury Scene’ in the UK, and some great musicians (check out Steve Hillage) and music has come our way ever since. Daevid Allen was a complete enigma.

[@BobberRider]

Gong is the band you listen to when you wake from your Pink Floyd coma, realise there's enough for another smoke, fire it up and begin taking the evening a stage further. 😎

[@ScottAlexander-p2r]

This is a genuine masterpiece xxx

[@markphillips3186]

Coincidentally just listened to Andy Edwards discussion of the Top 10 Prog Rock albums of 1973. He started of with Gong’s album Angel’s Egg. Then I discovered you covered the first side of Flying Teapot! Really I think the two of you should have a chat sometime in the future 😊

[@runciblemoon1194]

What delight! Both the choons (old faves of mine) and your resultant befuddlement. Glad you were able to appreciate not just the absurdist trappings but the rock solid musicianship underpinning it. I'd absolutely love you to keep going down this path and maybe tackle the whole trilogy a side at a time. You're already aboard the Flying Teapot - why not see where it takes you?

[@claudiofernandes9834]

Finally some Gong. One of my favourite bands!!!!!

[@stevious7278]

The perfect response to this album... have another puff and enjoy the ride!! Looking forward to side two. It's much more 'conventional' jazzy; kind of reminiscent of Soft Machine in parts.

[@ganazby]

Fantastic stuff!

[@alfredomeister9817]

There is a fabulous video of them playing "Ive never Glid before" on french TV in 1973 that you need to watch. Shows some wacky outfits, and super technical playing.

[@GekoPish]

Gongs whole collection is amazing. They are amazing musicians and Steve Hillage was a guitarist for them too for a while.

[@randygray8921]

There is one live video I found called afterglid if I remember correctly. They start out with this group chant then into a blistering jam!! Lol

[@strawberryrbicks]

One of the most original bands of the progressive era!

[@coyotegrove9206]

From the planet gong. Been waiting for this. Thanks!

[@colinburroughs9871]

Gong has a record called Espresso II that never gets mentioned by anyone.. It's awesome. That's all I know about them really. LSD band that went more percussion/fusion later and brought in some serious ringers like Bill Bruford (or The Police before they made it apparently).

[@stereo999]

that's the later jazzy stuff after Daevid Allen left the band. Still pretty awesome

[@joemaurone7923]

@15:45: (Doug grooving with a Pict): Doug, you need to extract that into a clip for a KZbin short!

[@elektrikhd]

Francois Moze also played in Magma. He has a couple of distinctive idioms in his playing like prominent use of glissandi (particularly up high followed by a trill up by whole step). Hope to hear some more Magma, as well as later Gong (Pierre Moerelen-led). I grew up (from age 0) on my dad's copy Expresso/Gazeuse.

[@virusshield1647]

I used to play with Jorge Pinchevsky, the violin on Shamal album. Din't listen any Gong for veeery long time. Awesome!

[@andrewwallace4481]

Weird Wednesday you hit the Nail on the Head Doug' I Heard these albums many years ago thinking that they were on another planet. Gong certainly made me stop and think a bit so great to hear them again Fabulous.🤡 The look on your Face at the End was priceless there is loads of Gong Live on YT

[@hugomontoya9029]

There is some live footage of Gong in the movie Glastonbury Fayre... but I didn't see their name until the closing credits and none of the bands I saw looked/sounded like them.