Gong Angel's Egg CD

In retrospect, it's hard to believe both FLYING TEAPOT and its successor ANGELS EGG were released within months of each other in 1973. Each is an elaborate, distinct musical statement. ANGEL'S EGG is the second installment in Gong's legendary "Radio Gnome Trilogy," and it expands upon the ground broken by TEAPOT admirably. Though the band was still pursuing their spacy art-rock direction, the sound here became simultaneously jazzier and more ethereal. Didier Malherbe's sax and flute took a more active role, as did Steve Hillage's elaborate guitar textures.

An important personnel shift had also occured with the arrival of drummer Pierre Moerlen, mallet percussionist Mirielle Bauer and bassist Mike Howlett. These three were very much of the fusion school. After singer/songwriter Daevid Allen's departure, they would turn Gong into a full-fledged fusion outfit, but with Allen's whimsical songcraft still the defining factor, they simply add a more sophisticated instrumental edge. ANGEL'S EGG is a bit more sophisticated than TEAPOT, but an equal masterpiece.

An important personnel shift had also occurred with the arrival of drummer Pierre Moerlen, mallet percussionist Mirielle Bauer and bassist Mike Howlett. These three were very much of the fusion school. After singer/songwriter Daevid Allen's departure, they would turn Gong into a full-fledged fusion outfit, but with Allen's whimsical songcraft still the defining factor, they simply add a more sophisticated instrumental edge. ANGEL'S EGG is a bit more sophisticated than TEAPOT, but an equal masterpiece.

The successor to The Flying Teapot and precursor to You, Angel's Egg is not your usual progressive rock album. Very quirky, with many, mostly brief compositions, the album is a tad less spacy than Teapot, with just a few psychedelic-inspired lyrics, and it's very technically adept. Angel's Egg opens with a true space rock cut (one of the few on the album), filled with the usual Gilli Smyth space whispering and Daevid Allen voicings, then leads into the cleverly titled "Sold to the Highest Buddha," with Steve Hillage and Didier Malherbe prominent figures. The instrumental "Castle in the Clouds" finds Hillage coming into his own, with a sound identical to his solo work. "Givin' My Love to You" sounds like a bar song, with no music and a cluster of seemingly drunken fellas trying to sing. The instrumental "Flute Salad" gives way to "Oily Way," a showcase for Malherbe's jazzy flute. "Inner Temple," an instrumental space rock track, moves along with a jazz edge provided by Malherbe's sax. The final three tracks are the real highlights on Angel's Egg. "I Never Glid Before" is a fantastic prog rock tune, replete with blistering Hillage solo, primo Allen lyrics and vocal, and the precise percussion of Pierre Moerlen. This eclectic composition travels through several movements and time changes, and comes across as a perpetually progressing piece. The imaginative and jazzy "Eat That Phone Book Coda" brings the album to a close. [This edition of the album features five bonus tracks.] ~ David Ross Smith

Additional Tracks

Audio Remasterer: Paschal Byrne.

Gong: Tim Blake (vocals, synthesizer); Steve Hillage (guitar); Mike Howlett (bass guitar); Pierre Moerlen (percussion).

Personnel: Dingo Virgin (guitar).