Gong - Expresso II [1978]

Now many of you may be familiar with the Progressive/Psychedelic band Gong, these two posts are something entirely different. After Band leader Daevid Allen left the band Pierre Moerlen the band's drummer at the time took the leadership and formed a band a lot more jazz oriented band with a much more percussion sound having two amazing vibraphone players and a percussionist. This led for me to the production of two of the most significant, mind blowing and pioneering records in Jazz/Rock history. Gazeuse! and Expresso II. Up until today i find nothing like these two records. The individual talents (and believe me you will be amazed by each and every persons playability and ideas) combined with fantastic ideas and song structures led by the fierce drumming of Moerlen and the vibraphones make these two albums in my humble opinion the two greatest jazz/rock albums ive ever heard. More rock-ish than Weather Report, more Jazzy than Mahavishnu Orchestra. Take a listen and see for your selves.

Studio Album, released in 1978

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Heavy Tune (6:22)
2. Golden Dilemma (4:51)
3. Sleepy (7:17)
4. Soli )7:37)
5. Boring (6:23)
6. Three Blind Mice (4:47)

Total Time: 37:17

Line-up / Musicians

- Mireille Bauer / marimbas, vibraphone
- Francois Causse / congas
- Allan Holdsworth / rhythm guitar
- Bon Lozaga / acoustic guitar
- Benoit Moerlen / glockenspiel, vibes, xylophone, tubular bells, claves
- Pierre Moerlen / drums, glockenspiel, xylophone, tubular bells, timpani
- Hansford Rowe / bass, rhythm guitar
- Mick Taylor / electric guitar
- Darryl Way / violin

Enjoy it

Gong - Gazeuse! [1976]

Now many of you may be familiar with the Progressive/Psychedelic band Gong, these two posts are something entirely different. After Band leader Daevid Allen left the band Pierre Moerlen the band's drummer at the time took the leadership and formed a band a lot more jazz oriented band with a much more percussion sound having two amazing vibraphone players and a percussionist. This led for me to the production of two of the most significant, mind blowing and pioneering records in Jazz/Rock history. Gazeuse! and Expresso II. Up until today i find nothing like these two records. The individual talents (and believe me you will be amazed by each and every persons playability and ideas) combined with fantastic ideas and song structures led by the fierce drumming of Moerlen and the vibraphones make these two albums in my humble opinion the two greatest jazz/rock albums ive ever heard. More rock-ish than Weather Report, more Jazzy than Mahavishnu Orchestra. Take a listen and see for your selves.



Studio Album, released in 1976

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Expresso (5:58)
2. Night Illusion (3:42)
3. Percolations, Part 1 + Part 2 (10:00)
4. Shadows Of (7:48)
5. Esnuria (8:00)
6. Mireille (4:10)

Total Time: 39:38

Line-up / Musicians

- Mireille Bauer / marimba, vibraphone, glock, toms
- Allan Holdsworth / electric guitar, acoustic guitar, violin, pedal steel guitar
- Didier Malherbe / Tenor sax, flute
- Benoit Moerlen / vibra
- Pierre Moerlen / drums, glock, vibra, marimba, timpani
- Francis Moze / Fretless bass, gong, acoustic & electric piano

Enjoy it

Forgas Band Phenomena - Soleil 12 (2007)

Now for my secong post.Well this is one of my favorite instrumental prog rock albums just like the above post Atlas from Sweden (hope you liked it).Forgas Band Phenomena is a french octet with drummer Patrick Forgas as the leader.Their music a blend of canterbury and jazz-rock wich is in one way unique.The melodies and riffs stick to your head from the very first.

Bandleader Patrick Forgas has been described as 'the French answer to the Canterbury scene', and this album of his is proudly marketed as: 'for fans of Soft Machine, Pierre Moerlen's Gong, Bruford, National Health.I agree on that.

True, the music on SOLEIL 12 often resembles THIRD (and BUNDLES) era Soft Machine, and it will also remind you of Pierre Moerlen's Gong at their gentlest (especially of the Gong albums that came after EXPRESSO II). Forgas reveals a familiar preference for unhurried, repetitive, riff-driven compositions. His drumming style is close to Pierre Moerlen's. The sound of three brass players (trumpet and saxes) playing the main themes in unison is unmistakably Soft-Machine like.lead guitarist Sylvain Ducloux tends to sound like a typical Allan Holdsworth-disciple.Also an excellent work from the violinist Frédéric Norel!

These four trakcs on the album are played Live! Yes that is correct, Live performance played unmistakably well, almost like studio-like version.

It's trully a gem!

Live, released in 2005

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. Soleil 12 (9:22)
2. Coup De Théâtre (34:47)
3. Éclipse (8:16)
4. Pievre à la Pluie (18:18)

Total Time: 70:43

Line-up / Musicians

- Patrick Forgas / drums
- Sylvain Ducloux / guitar
- Igor Brover / keyboards
- Kengo Mochizuki / bass
- Frédéric Norel / violin
- Stanislas De Nussac / Tenor & Soprano saxophones
- Denis Guivarch / Alto saxophone
- Sylvain Gontard / trumpet, flugelhorn

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