Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Gong
Label: Virgin Records
Released: 1974
Length: 44:38
Rating: 5/5
With »You«, the closing third chapter of the cult »Radio Gnome Invisible« concept trilogy and the follow-up to »Flying Teapot« and »Angel’s Egg« (both released in 1973), the international space rock heavyweights Gong hit their artistic peak, at least as far as their work with the eccentric and wildly charismatic Australian singer and guitarist Daevid Allen in the lineup goes. The Gong lineup, or rather the international musical commune of ‘space hippies’, hadn’t changed much since »Angel’s Egg«. Allen’s motley crew of ‘tea gnomes’ was joined by percussionist Benoit Moerlen, the younger brother of drummer Pierre Moerlen, and by Miquette Giraudy, the girlfriend of guitar virtuoso Steve Hillage, with whom she later founded the psychedelic/trance outfit System 7. With her more youthful approach, she helped Allen’s partner, Gong’s resident ‘witch’ Gilli Smyth, with the more or less otherworldly vocalizations, and alongside percussionist Mireille Bauer she was one of three women in the Gong of that era, which for a progressive rock band was almost unheard of.
The key change in the sonic evolution of this classic Gong lineup, as far as the structure of this classic Canterbury scene album goes, was that the first half is taken up by shorter pieces, while the second half is filled out by longer, more epic creations. Thanks to both Moerlens, Bauer and longtime woodwind player Didier Malherbe, there were more jazz fusion elements than ever before, and after Allen’s unexpected, temporary departure, that quickly became Gong’s future sonic direction. Likewise, thanks to future Hawkwind keyboardist Tim Blake, there were more electronic textures than on either of the two previous »Radio Gnome Invisible« albums.
The unruly psychedelic merrymaker Allen, who went by the name Dingo Virgin at the time, was of course still the lead vocalist and songwriter, though as a guitarist he was pushed a bit into the background, since Hillage’s virtuoso guitar feats were taking up an ever bigger role in Gong’s sound. In terms of arrangement and songwriting, »You« was without a doubt the most mature part of the whole »Radio Gnome Invisible« trilogy, with plenty of subtle ambient moments that in several places replaced the more bizarre sonic elements of the past. As for the concept of the last part of Allen’s space rock trilogy, there isn’t much to say. After a ‘poisoned’ tea party with the good witch Yoni, played by Smyth, the anti-hero Zero the Hero transcends his physical state on planet Gong and reaches an out-of-body, cosmic nirvana, while the invisible gnomes don’t exactly go overboard mourning his physical passing.
»You« opens in a relatively innocent way with »Thoughts For Naught«, which in its ambient feel recalls a druid séance in front of a stone circle. Pastoral flute sounds and electronic synthesizer textures are seasoned with ‘druidic’ vocalizations. »A.P.H.P.’s Advice« is a characteristic classic Gong composition, meaning it’s packed with Allen’s off-the-wall ideas, led by his mocking vocal performance, playful use of percussion and even goofier saxophone playing. »Magick Mother Invocation« is another short gem, where it’s mostly Blake having fun laying down ‘spacey’ synth textures while distant female vocalizations drift in the background. All three opening tracks were more or less a warm-up for the space rock orgy »Master Builder«, with which Gong seriously challenged Hawkind for the crown of the most innovative space rock band of the day. Dissonant vocalizations, electronic waves of strange synth textures, mighty tempo shifts and a wild saxophone make up a perfect psychedelic space rock trip. Eventually Hillage joins in with a mouthwatering guitar solo, and the captain of the Gong crew, Allen, chimes in with his goofy ramblings. The true mastery of that Gong lineup shines in all its glory on the instrumental cosmic adventure »A Sprinkling of Clouds«, which answers the question of why »You« is the best part of the »Radio Gnome Invisible« trilogy. Electronic synthesizer textures, rippling Mellotron curtains and mysterious percussion improvisations are eventually joined by wild guitar and saxophone passages that keep floating somewhere between space rock and jazz rock fusion.
»Perfect Mystery« is another goofy little number with Allen’s typical, eccentric humor, a bluesy guitar riff, playful percussion and spoken ‘sequences’ courtesy of the two backing vocalists. »The Isle of Everywhere« is the next ethereal ambient journey with even more female vocalizations and Mellotron waves, clever rhythmic turns from the fantastic Moerlen/Mike Howlett rhythm section and witty saxophone bits, while Hillage’s guitar shenanigans are what make this one an all-time Gong evergreen. The closing intergalactic masterpiece »You Never Blow Yr Trip Forever«, a proper cosmic trip with Allen in his most psychedelic ‘element’ and plenty of rhythmic changes, is something of a peak and an ending to the space rock voyage with the flying teapot, where all the strengths of the international Gong musical commune come together as one perfect whole.
With »You«, Gong reached their creative peak and put the finishing touch on the »Radio Gnome Invisible« concept trilogy. Allen’s unexpected, temporary farewell to Gong came in 1975, right before a gig in the English town of Cheltenham, when in his own super-eccentric style he refused to step onto the stage, claiming that ‘an invisible wall is stopping him from connecting with the audience’, which shocked and disappointed countless fans. In 1975, after the departure of his unsuccessful drummer replacement, Brian Davison (ex-The Nice), and after Hillage’s exit, the reins of the band were unexpectedly taken over by returnee Pierre Moerlen, who had said his goodbyes in the meantime and who steered Gong over the following years into full-on jazz rock fusion waters. After Allen’s return to the Gong family in 1977, several Gong factions emerged: Allen’s ‘official’ Gong, which for a while operated under the name Planet Gong; the short-lived post-punk New York Gong, who recorded a single album under Allen’s leadership, titled »About Time« (1980); the jazz fusion Pierre Moerlen’s Gong; and what survives of them today, the stylistically related Gongzilla, and Mother Gong, led by Smyth.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9knIlUc5Cs
Lineup
Daevid Allen (“Dingo Virgin”) – vocals, guitar
Gilli Smyth (“Shakti Yoni”) – storytelling and ‘space whisper’
Didier Malherbe (“Bloomdido Bad de Grasse”) – woodwinds, backing vocals
Tim Blake (“Hi T Moonweed”) – Moog and EMS synthesizer, Mellotron
Miquette Giraudy (“Bambaloni Yoni”) – voices
Steve Hillage – guitar
Mike Howlett – bass guitar
Pierre Moerlen – drums, percussion
Mireille Bauer – percussion
Benoit Moerlen – percussion
Production
Simon Heyworth and Gong
Track list
1. Thoughts For Naught (1:30)
2. A P.H.P.’s Advice (1:37)
3. Magick Mother Invocation (2:11)
4. Master Builder (6:09)
5. A Sprinkling Of Clouds (8:42)
6. Perfect Mystery (2:25)
7. The Isle Of Everywhere (10:21)
8. You Never Blow Your Trip Forever (11:24)
