Gong – “Rejoice! I’m Dead!” (Madfish, 2016)
Psychedelic rock collective Gong has released its first album since the death of its founder Daevid Allen. It’s hard to know who’s a member of gong at any given time, as the lineup changes frequently. This time, Gong has added guitarist and vocalist Kavus Torabi (Knifeworld), a multi-faceted musician who is involved in many different progressive music-related projects in the UK.
This version of Gong begins the album with three songs that seem to me like late 60s psychedelia. What I liked about Gong in the 1970s was its progressive rock spirit and the first three cuts on this album deliver a more rudimentary rock form with psychedelic outbursts here and there.
Things get much more interesting on track 4, “Model Village,” where the band adds trippy electronics, exotic flutes, laid back dreamy vocals and sound effects. It’s certainly a more progressive sound. This track also features an important Gong pioneer, French wind instrument master Didier Malherbe, who plays Armenian duduk.
The exploratory psychedelia continues on “Beatrix” with some jazz leanings.
On “Visions” the band takes into space music with mesmerizing gliss guitar and ebow intertwined with soprano sax.
Next comes ”The Unspeakable Stands Revealed” where the band goes into progressive psychedelic jam rock mode, delivering notable gliss guitar, regular electric guitar and soprano sax interplay.
Track 8, “Through Restless Seas I Come” slows down the space and takes you into the dreamtime zone with the mix of electronic, vocals and evocative duduk.
On the last track, “Insert Yr Own Prophecy” the band kicks up the rock side of things and develops into a great jam-like piece.
The lineup on ‘Rejoice! I’m Dead!’ includes Kavus Toravi on vocals and guitar; Fabio Golfetti on guitar and vocals; Dave Sturt on bass and vocals; Ian East on sax and flute; and Cheb Nettles on drums and vocals. There are also guest appearance by former Gong musicians Steve Hillage on guitar; Didier Malherbe on duduk; and Graham Clark on violin.
“Rejoice! I’m Dead!” is available on CD, a double LP and as a limited edition deluxe 3 disc hardback book edition featuring 44-page book, CD, DVD-AV & Bonus CD; and digitally as well.
Buy Rejoice! I’m Dead! in the Americas
Buy Rejoice! I’m Dead in Europe