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Shamal (album)

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Shamal
Studio album by
Released13 February 1976 (1976-02-13)
RecordedDecember 1975
Studio
Genre
Length40:41
LabelVirgin Records
ProducerNick Mason
Gong chronology
You
(1974)
Shamal
(1976)
Gazeuse!
(1976)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]
Christgau's Record GuideB−[2]

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] 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.

Reception

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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

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Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Wingful of Eyes"Mike Howlett6:20
2."Chandra"Lemoine, Howlett7:18
3."Bambooji"Didier Malherbe5:13
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
4."Cat in Clark's Shoes"Malherbe, Howlett, Lemoine7:43
5."Mandrake"Pierre Moerlen5:04
6."Shamal"Howlett, Malherbe, Moerlen, Lemoine, Mireille Bauer9:03
Total length:40:41

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

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Personnel

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Gong
Former Gong
Guest musicians
  • Jorge Pinchevsky – violin ("Chandra", "Bambooji", "Cat In Clark's Shoes", "Shamal"), voice ("Cat In Clark's Shoes")
  • Sandy Colley – vocals ("Shamal")

Production

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  • Nick Mason: producer
  • Clive Arrowsmith: artwork, photography
  • Phil Ault: engineer
  • Dave Hutchins: engineer
  • Ben Tavera King: engineer
  • Rick Curtain: engineer
  • Ben King: engineer

References

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  1. ^ a b "allmusic ((( Shamal > Review )))". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved 29 October 2009.
  2. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: G". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved 24 February 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  3. ^ "GONG-Chronology". calyx.perso.neuf.fr/gong. 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  4. ^ "GONG-Biography". calyx.perso.neuf.fr/gong. 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  5. ^ "Gong - Shamal (album review )". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
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