Shapeshifter

• Artist: Gong
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1992
• Total Time: 72:40
• Type: Lyrics are included with the album
• Genre: Rock

Review

For their first album of new material in over 20 years, the real Gong (i.e., one led by Daevid Allen and containing a number of players from the classic '60s-'70s period) offer -- well, much of what made them so popular in the first place. There's an impish sense of humor to the lyrics, Gilli Smyth's deeply echoing space whisper, stunning sax and flute work from the criminally underrated Didier Malherbe, and plenty of trademark glissando guitar from Allen himself. Goddesses are invoked, gnomes are mentioned, and rhubarb is eaten, among many other things. Guitarist Steffi Sharpstrings fills what was Steve Hillage's role with plenty of post-punk energy, but really it all revolves around Allen's personality and some stunning music. Time's been kind to Gong. Their pioneering space rock ways found a home with the ambient crowd and their music shows they've listened to what's gone on and incorporated it into their sonic journey, which is part prog rock, part jazz, and part just out there. "Can You: You Can," a live cut from 1992, with its wonderful improvisations, is a prime example, although even better is the long closer "Goddess Inovation/Om Riff," where they hammer to infinity and beyond. Veteran Pip Pyle shows a light, steady touch on the drums, Allen is even more inventive than before, and the refusal to take themselves completely seriously keeps it floating along. Having this band together before recording in the studio was obviously a good idea; they mesh perfectly, and it's good to have a classic back, energetic and full of ideas. ~ Chris Nickson, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Gnomerique	Daevid Allen	Gong	(:07)
Shapeshifter	Daevid Allen, Didier Malherbe	Gong	(4:53)
Hymnalayas	Daevid Allen, Keith Bailey	Gong	(7:38)
Dog-O-Matic	Shyamal "Banana Ananda" Maitra	Gong	(3:00)
Spirit With Me	Daevid Allen	Gong	(2:27)
Mr. Albert Parkin	Graham Clark	Gong	(:17)
Raindrop Tablas	Shyamal "Banana Ananda" Maitra	Gong	(:21)
Give My Mother a Soul Call		Gong	(4:30)
Heaven's Gate	Daevid Allen, Keith Bailey	Gong	(4:49)
Snake Tablas	Shyamal "Banana Ananda" Maitra	Gong	(:34)
Loli	Daevid Allen, Graham Clark	Gong	(5:09)
Can You: You Can [Live]	Didier Malherbe	Gong	(9:09)
Confiture de Rhubarbier	Pip Pyle	Gong	(1:18)
Parkin Triumphant	Graham Clark	Gong	(:06)
Longhaired Tablas	Shyamal "Banana Ananda" Maitra	Gong	(:14)
Éléphant la Tête	Didier Malherbe, Shyamal "Banana Ananda" Maitra	Gong	(4:41)
Mother's Gone	Daevid Allen	Gong	(1:12)
Éléphant la Cuisse	Didier Malherbe, Graham Clark	Gong	(3:26)
White Doves		Gong	(5:24)
Gnomoutro	Daevid Allen	Gong	(:27)
Goddess Invocation Om Riff [Live]	Steve Hillage, Daevid Allen, Tim Blake, Didier Malherbe, Gilli Smyth, Mike Howlett	Gong	(12:58)

Credits

Didier Malherbe (Saxophone), Pip Pyle (Drums), Graham Clark (Vocals), Keith Bailey (Bass), Keith Bailey (Vocals), Didier Malherbe (Keyboards), Alain Ehrlich (Kora), Daevid Allen (Guitar (Acoustic)), Shawn Ahearn (Executive Producer), Shyamal "Banana Ananda" Maitra (Ghantam), Didier Malherbe (?), Pip Pyle (Bottle), Gilli Smyth (Vocals), Mike Howlett (Bass), Didier Malherbe (Sax (Soprano)), Graham Clark (Violin), Pip Pyle (Screams), Shawn Ahearn (Artwork), Didier Malherbe (Flute), Keith Bailey (Guitar (Bass)), Shawn Ahearn (Design), Alain Ehrlich (Keyboards), Didier Malherbe (Synthesizer), Shyamal "Banana Ananda" Maitra (Darbouka), Didier Malherbe (Piccolo), Peter Hartl (Artwork), Shyamal "Banana Ananda" Maitra (Djembe), Franz Pusch (Design), Mark Robson (Keyboards), Franz Pusch (Artwork), Mantra Shyamal (Tabla), Mark Robson (Vocals), Peter Hartl (Design), Daevid Allen (Accordion), Shyamal "Banana Ananda" Maitra (Tabla), Daevid Allen (Vocals), Didier Malherbe (Sax (Baritone)), Twink (Synthesizer), Graham Clark (Voices), Didier Malherbe (Sax (Alto)), Didier Malherbe (Reeds (Multiple)), Daevid Allen (Guitar), Shyamal "Banana Ananda" Maitra (Percussion), Gilli Smyth (Whistle (Human)), Charlélie Couture (?), Pip Pyle (Voices), Steffy Sharpstring (Guitar), Peter Kimberley (Vocals), Didier Malherbe (Sax (Tenor)), Mark Robson (?), Gilli Smyth (Space Whisper), Nigel Gilroy (Producer)

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