GONG: The Universe Also Collapses (PROGRESSIVE ROCK,Jazz): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Without Daevid Allen and Pierre Moerlen, Gong story continues. The objectives are clear from the outset: it is not a question of proposing a pale copy of what Gong could have been, but of continuing the psychedelic epic. Guitarist and singer Kavust Torabi explained it well:''We wanted to create the ultimate psychedelic album''. In other words, according to their wishes, the members of the new Gong offer us a healthy drug-taking experience. Four pieces make up the framework of this ''The Universe Also Collapses'', two of which culminate in more than ten minutes.

'My Sawtooth Wake' starts as a nightmare awakened by the heavy blows of cymbals and brutal projections of saxophones. The song goes through several slowdowns before returning to a rhythm close to King Crimson over 13 minutes. The second long piece,'Forever Reocurring', engulfs the listener into an extra-temporal continuum of more than twenty minutes. Long, throbbing and repetitive loops form the path to go down even if the saxophone and guitar eventually came out of their torpor. But despite the very long introduction, the rest shows us that the musicians have nothing to envy to their predecessors. Keyboards, guitars, drums and saxophone play to deliver a jousting game that ends in apotheosis.

Unfortunately, the fairy tale lacks a script strategy. Some erratic aspects are scattered throughout the album. 'The Elemental' tends to cacophony without really convincing. The shorter track 'If Never I'm And Never You' which presents a more vertiginous and harder aspect despite the disastrous vocals would have deserved a longer treatment. Kavust Torabi's voice, while reminiscent of his predecessor's nasal and theatrical voice, is particularly monotonous and devoid of any sensuality. 'Forever Reocurring', misses its goal of becoming hypnotic. The smoky lyrics in every sense of the word are in harmony with the psychedelic spirit but lack finesse. Certainly the beginning of 'The Elemental' tries to disable this pompous aspect but finds it again too quickly.

Gong is dead! Long live Gong! If some moments recall the great era of the style and this mythical band, we will regret too many freedoms taken with its heritage, causing long moments of boredom. There is a Steve Hillage or Didier Malherbe missing to guide this ship which if not yet threatened is likely to be in loss. - Official website

GONG

THE UNIVERSE ALSO COLLAPSES

KSCOPE

PROGRESSIVE ROCK