Gong’s 2014 album I See You enjoys a 10th Anniversary Edition remix release, for a sure set of loopy psychedelia prog this band was always known for. Opening with the funky bass runs and horn bleats of the title track, into a kinetic rush countered with beautiful horn melodies of the short “Occupy,” I See You gives us the last of this band’s frontman and visionary Daevid Allen, who passed away shortly after the album’s initial release.
Gong is of a particular taste, even among the particular taste that is progressive rock (none other than “George Jefferson” himself, Sherman Hemsley was a huge Gong fan!) and these 12 selections are surely of a specific singular stripe. There’s “The Eternal Wheel Spins,” a spacey, echoey single-note wild guitar, speedy snare, clicking bass and an almost chanted vocal mélange. There’s more than a liberal use of echo and reverb all across I See You — “Brew Of Special Tea” and the instrumental flute and horn screeching of “Shakti Yoni & Dingo Virgin” are good examples.
Anarchic, instrumental flights, contemplations of life and death, even released as it was in 2014, this is pure going-going Gong, not so very far away from what this band gave us from their early 70s releases. Allen is joined by his son Orlando on drums, along with members of the current band lineup — guitarist and frontman Kavus Torabi, horn player Ian East, bassist Dave Sturt, and guitarist Fabio Golfetti on guitar. Together, they make a very solid showing, sounding better than ever on this anniversary edition.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
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I See You
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