The Gong Farmers – Guano Junction (Spaceward Records, 2021)
British band The Gong Farmers plays music that defies musical genres. The band’s sound is characterized by beautifully crafted, spellbinding cinematic electronic arrangements, reverberating flutes, soaring violin, acoustic drums, trancy electronic beats, and dream pop vocals.
There is a connection to progressive rock in the form of keyboard arrangements and the participation of Van der Graaf Generator’s David Jackson. In addition, the song “Vista de Toledo” has Spanish music influences. The song refers to Toledo, the stunning former imperial capital of Spain.
The core members of The Gong Farmers are keyboardist, vocalist and composer Mark Graham and guitarist, flute player, keyboardist and composer Andrew Keeling. The group was created in 2018 after a visit to an Irish Castle where they read about the activities of the medieval gong farmers.
Andrew Keeling said about the album, “Beyond the general concepts of love and loss, each listener is likely to project their own meaning onto the music. Besides, each song concerns itself with a different subject.”
Musical guests: David Jackson (Van der Graaf Generator) on saxophones; Alex Che (Modern Eon, Che) on vocals, synthesizers, electric guitars; Cliff Hewitt (Modern Eon, Apollo 440) on drums, percussion; Noko (Apollo 440) on viola and string arrangements; Martin Walker (Nth Ascension, Thruaglas Darkly) on electric guitar; Brian Taylor (This Is Awkward, Thruaglas Darkly) on electric guitar and textures; Ricardo Odriozola (Judge Smith) on violins; Rene Van Commenee on drums, percussion; and Ben Keeling on electric guitar, devices.