Shamal (album)

Last updated

Shamal
Gong Shamal.jpg
Studio album by
Gong
Released13 February 1976 (1976-02-13)
RecordedDecember 1975
Studio
Genre
Length40:13
Label Virgin Records
Producer Nick Mason
Gong chronology
You
(1974)		Shamal
(1976)		 Gazeuse!
(1976)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Christgau's Record Guide B− [2]

Shamal is the sixth studio album released under the name Gong and was released by Virgin Records on 13 February 1976 [3] The album, produced by Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, was recorded in December 1975 [4] by a unique line-up referred to later as "Shamal-Gong". It is usually regarded as a transitional album between Daevid Allen's incarnation of the band and the Pierre Moerlen-led fusion line-up of the late 1970s.

Contents

Reception

Reviewing the album for the website Sputnikmusic, Robert Davis said:

The greatest thing about Shamal is that it's so versatile. There are only six tracks here, but each one seems to explore a different tone and aspect of musical experimentation. The softer tracks such as opener "Wingful of Eyes" and beautiful, elegant flute-led "Bambooji" are complementary to the album's quirkier tracks, such as the almost Frank Zappa-inspired "Cat in Clark's Shoes" and eccentric closing title track. Yet what really glues all these songs together is the absence of self-indulgent musicianship and a definite knowledge of perfect instrumental placements. [5]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Wingful of Eyes" Mike Howlett 8:19
2."Chandra"Music: Patrice Lemoine; Lyrics: Mike Howlett7:16
3."Bambooji" Didier Malherbe 5:21
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
4."Cat in Clark's Shoes"Didier Malherbe, Mike Howlett, Patrice Lemoine7:45
5."Mandrake" Pierre Moerlen 5:07
6."Shamal"Howlett, Malherbe, Moerlen, Lemoine, Mireille Bauer 8:58
Total length:40:13

In 2018, a 2-CD remastered edition of the album was issued by UMC containing one CD of live material recorded in 1975, and unreleased bonus tracks to the regular album.

Personnel

Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
"Wingful of Eyes"
Wingful of Eyes sample
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Personnel

Gong
Former Gong
Guest musicians

Production

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References

  1. 1 2 "allmusic ((( Shamal > Review )))". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  2. ↑ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: G". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies . Ticknor & Fields. ISBN   089919026X . Retrieved 24 February 2019– via robertchristgau.com.
  3. ↑ "GONG-Chronology". calyx.perso.neuf.fr/gong. 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  4. ↑ "GONG-Biography". calyx.perso.neuf.fr/gong. 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  5. ↑ "Gong - Shamal (album review )". Sputnikmusic . Retrieved 20 June 2018.
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