Shamal (album)
Shamal is the sixth studio album released under the name Gong and was released by Virgin Records on 13 February 1976[3] The album, produced by Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason was recorded in December 1975.[4] The album was recorded by a unique line-up referred to later as "Shamal-Gong". It is usually regarded as a transitional album between Daevid Allen's incarnation of the band and the Pierre Moerlen-led fusion line-up of the late 1970s.
| Shamal | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 13 February 1976 | |||
| Recorded | December 1975 | |||
| Studio | ||||
| Genre | Progressive rock, Jazz fusion[1] | |||
| Length | 40:13 | |||
| Label | Virgin Records | |||
| Producer | Nick Mason | |||
| Gong chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | B–[2] |
Reception
Reviewing the album for the website Sputnikmusic, Robert Davis said:
The greatest thing about Shamal is that it's so versatile. There are only six tracks here, but each one seems to explore a different tone and aspect of musical experimentation. The softer tracks such as opener "Wingful of Eyes" and beautiful, elegant flute-led "Bambooji" are complementary to the album's quirkier tracks, such as the almost Frank Zappa-inspired "Cat in Clark's Shoes" and eccentric closing title track. Yet what really glues all these songs together is the absence of self-indulgent musicianship and a definite knowledge of perfect instrumental placements.[5]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Wingful of Eyes" | Mike Howlett | 8:19 |
| 2. | "Chandra" | Music: Patrice Lemoine; Lyrics: Mike Howlett | 7:16 |
| 3. | "Bambooji" | Didier Malherbe | 5:21 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4. | "Cat in Clark's Shoes" | Didier Malherbe, Mike Howlett, Patrice Lemoine | 7:45 |
| 5. | "Mandrake" | Pierre Moerlen | 5:07 |
| 6. | "Shamal" | Howlett, Malherbe, Moerlen, Lemoine, Mireille Bauer | 8:58 |
| Total length: | 40:13 | ||
In 2018, a 2-CD remastered edition of the album was issued by UMC containing one CD of live material recorded in 1975, and unreleased bonus tracks to the regular album.
Personnel
Personnel
- Gong
- Mike Howlett – bass guitar, vocals
- Didier Malherbe – tenor sax, soprano sax, flute, bansuri, gongs
- Mireille Bauer – marimba, glockenspiel, xylophone, percussion, gongs
- Pierre Moerlen – drums, vibraphone, tubular bells
- Patrice Lemoine – organ, piano, synthesizer
- Former Gong
- Steve Hillage – acoustic guitar, electric guitar ("Bambooji" and "Wingful of Eyes")
- Miquette Giraudy – vocals ("Bambooji")
- Guest musicians
- Jorge Pinchevsky – violin
- Sandy Colley – vocals ("Shamal")
Production
- Nick Mason: producer
- Clive Arrowsmith: artwork, photography
- Phil Ault: engineer
- Dave Hutchins: engineer
- Ben Tavera King: engineer
- Rick Curtain: engineer
- Ben King: engineer
References
- "allmusic ((( Shamal > Review )))". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
- Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: G". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 24, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- "GONG-Chronology". calyx.perso.neuf.fr/gong. 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- "GONG-Biography". calyx.perso.neuf.fr/gong. 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- "Gong - Shamal (album review ) - Sputnikmusic". www.sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
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