review by thomas

What the hell is this? I’m waiting on the magic of “Camembert Electrique” to appear and all I get is proto-“You” instrumental space-jazz (“Other Side of the Sky”, “Castle in the Clouds”) and short little tunes by mostly Daevid Allen (“Givin’ My Love to You”, “Selene”, “Love is How You Make it”) were he seems to already have thrown in the glove. So on this album it’s actually the other band members that comes up with the, few, really good songs.

Nevertheless, there are some nice tunes, like the “Oily Way”/”Outer Temple”/”Inner Temple” suite and Gilli Smyth’s “Prostitute Poem” with its France laden music and lyrics, and I confess that “Castle in the Clouds” and “Sold to the Highest Buddha” are rather good, especially the saxophones. But the real ignition doesn’t appear until the end of the album. I’m talking about Steve Hillage’s “I Never Glid Before” and Malherbe’s “Eat That Phone Book Coda”, this is Gong to me. With those pothead pixies, Zero the hero and of course the quirky saxes. Classically trained Pierre Moerlen really impress behind the kit, but often to no use since a lot of the songs are pretty weak. His playing on “Eat That Phone Book Coda” and “Oily Way” is outstanding, well his playing is outstanding on the entire album, the only thing that is excellent all the way through.

On this record we find songs for both the Gong camps. Lovers of “You” will find good things here, likewise will lovers of “Camembert” or “Flying Teapot”. Lovers of both Gong styles will perhaps find a masterpiece? Honestly I don’t think so since several tracks are weak regardless of whose eyes you are looking with. By the way: I don’t think this album cover is the same as the original LP one.