GONG
You (Virgin Records/EMI)
Reviewed by Sherman Wick

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You is Gong - and space rock for that matter - at its worst. The record contains nine pieces of hippy drivel; the lyrics are cliched and hackneyed - and worst of all the arrangement are dull.

The collective of performers known as Gong displays unbounded creativity of the quirkiest and oddest sort on Angels Egg, but for this record the music is a stagnant amalgam of the worst tendencies of progressive rock. The songs are uninspiring and further listens only heighten this reaction. "A Sprinkling of Clouds" begins with a snippet of cool synthesizer and feedback, but then sets in to a dull half-assed stoner beat that is apoplectic not ambient. Instrumentalists then take turns playing indulgent solos that only deter the song from moving anywhere. Unfortunately, the rest of the record is much of the same, so I'll spare you the gory details.

Gong was much better than this reissue record, so avoid it. The band's Angel's Egg is superior - or better yet try the early Amon Düül II catalog.

© 2005 - Sherman Wick