Customer Reviews

Camembert Electrique

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Around the time that this fantastic album was recorded a lot of drug addled 'artists' were creating a lot of drug adled 'music' based on drug adled lyrical content which also usually happened to be gibberish and the rock equivelant to doggerel. Sure, these self-confessed pot-head pixies could be accused of the same, but the crucial difference between most psychedelic groups and this Camembert Electrique Gong album is that Gong contains virtuoso musicians that also know how to have fun - and how to incorporate traces of lots of different musics of this world into a rock album. Their virtuosity is evinced by the fact that most of this music is intricately arranged - and as far as I know most of the members were blithely traipsing in Drug La-La Land, but they still managed to "get it together, man!". This is what the Mothers of Invention would sound like if Zappa allowed the use of drugs. This album was a snow-flake to snow-ball cult classic when it was released, and its alchemy of creativity and substance shall never wane. It will continue to be a cult classic forever.

Et Voilá...! Here you have the beginning of Gong's astonishing 'saga', a strikingly creative masterpiece of spaced-out psychedelia. Daevid Allen's dreamingly blistering glissando guitars, Gilli Smyth's heavenly psychic space whispering, Pip Pyle's fantastic, raw-edged drumming and Didier Malherbe's wailing saxophones are a lysergic joy to listen, a free-wheeling psychedelic musical dream. This is an outstanding masterwork, a must for all fans of space rock madness!

Released in 1971 this album shows Gong adopting the heavy space rock sound that would carry them through their most distinctive and classic works: Flying Teapot (1973); Angel's Egg (1973); and You (1974) (aka The Radio Gnome Trilogy). Unfortunately, after the excellent You album Daevid Allen left the band and Gong moved in a jazz rock direction. Although I like the jazz rock phase of Gong, it does not quite compare with the magic of their 1971-1974 output, and especially the excellent Camembert Electrique.

The core lineup on this album contains French and English musicians of considerable skill: the first-rate Pip Pyle (drums); Christian Tritsch (bass guitar); Didier Malherbe (saxophones, flute); Gilli Smyth (vocals, "space whisper"); and bandleader Daevid Allen (vocals, electric guitars, and bass). Also present are two brief appearances by keyboardists Eddy Louiss (Hammond organ and piano); and Constantin Simonovitch (phased piano). I think it goes without saying that all of the musicians in Gong are excellent. In fact, Gong has had some of prog's best drummers including Pip and the late Pierre Moerlen. When the band really gets going, the ensemble work can get very complex. The bass playing is extremely aggressive and Christian favors a slightly distorted tone on his Fender. In fact, this tone was used by bassist Mike Howlett during the subsequent albums during the 73-75 period. Coupled with some wild playing on an equally distorted electric guitar, the interplay between the bassist and guitarist is hair raising. Pip of course really drives everything along with his incredible technique. Although I really enjoy Daevid's vocal style and altered spoke word passages, his approach may not appeal to everybody.

The 11 tracks on this album all (more or less) blend into one another and include very spacey instrumental interludes that feature Gilli Smyth's sultry space whisper, short experimental passages that fature tape loops and other electronic experimentation, and thunderous prog rock workouts. Of all the tracks on the album it is only Tried so Hard that comes even somewhat close to being a "song" with melodies - it actually brings a bit of a reprieve, especially after the cacophonous closing jam on Fohat Digs Holes in Space, although it too is pretty crazy in its own way. I guess it is worth mentioning that Fohat... comes close to the sound that Gong would get on albums like Angel's Egg although I think that, in general, the blueprint was pretty much established with this album.

This reissue by Charly is, like all of the other Gong releases by Charly, pretty lousy. The liner notes are however, informative although the sound quality is only just OK.

All in all this is an incredible album of very heavy progressive space rock. The musicianship is positively top shelf and the music gets pretty cosmic at times. This is fantastic stuff all around that is highly recommended along with Continental Circus (1972); Flying Teapot; Angel's Egg, and You.

1971's Camembert Electrique shows Gong at their most rocking. This album was originally released on the French BYG label. This was still two years off before the band was signed to Virgin Records. At this point, the band consisted of Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth (the oldest member, who was nearly 40 at the time), Pip Pyle, Christian Tritsch, and Didier Malherbe. Notice the lack of Steve Hillage or Tim Blake. That means you won't find any of those killer lead guitars like on You or VCS-3 synth bubbles (but you will get your share of eerie glissando guitar from Allen here). Instead, you get a raw, aggressive, rocking Gong. Songs like "You Can't Kill Me", "Dynamite: I Am Your Animal" and "Mister Long Shanks" are examples of the more rocking side of Gong you don't get on their Virgin-era albums. All with their playful humor you expect from the band from the 1971-74 era. "I've Bin Stone Before" is a pretty silly Bob Dylan imitation (I guess Daevid Allen was thinking of Dylan's "Rainy Day Women 12 & 35" aka "Everybody Must Get Stoned"). "Fohats Digs Holes in Space" is one of Gong's excellent trademark space rock goodies complete with glissando guitar, same for the "I am Your Fantasy" section of "Mister Long Shanks". Since this predates the Radio Gnome Trilogy, there is no concept behind this album, so you won't find any stories about the Octave Doctors, Zero the Hero, and the Pot Head Pixies (but you can find a Pot Head Pixie on the cover to this album). Aside from You, this is by far my favorite Gong album, and if you're a fan of this band, be sure to get this album.

Aunque Magick Brother es un gran disco, Camembert Electrique muestra lo mejor de Gong, excelente guitarra y voces (incluyendo a Gilli Smyth y su particular aporte), un grupo cohesionado pero sobre todo extraordinarias canciones, mezclando sicodelia, progresivo, atmósferas espaciales, jazz y un toque de demencia. Daevid Allen brilla como nunca y consigue uno de los mejores trabajos sicodélicos de todos los tiempos, aunque su propuesta no tenga mucho que ver con otros exponentes de éste estilo (algo similar ocurre con el debut de Soft Machine, otro disco genial). Pese a no ser lo más conocido de Gong, Camembert deja en claro que las ideas de Allen y compañia volaban muy alto a principios de los 70's. Indispensable para fanáticos de la sicodelia y altamente recomendado para adictos al rock progresivo, asi como para los que buscan un guitarrista y cantante realmente singular o para quienes simplemente deseen escuchar a un grupo único.

If you're looking for an introduction to the most spaced-out, psychedelic rock band ever, then this is the album for you! Camembert Electrique is a magical mix of catchy lyrics, heady rythmns and comical inserts that pleases from start to finish. No holds barred in this blast through fun-and-funky music to sit down and toke to!

This is a great record released prior to the Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy, scruffily but effectively recorded with primitive psychedelic effects such as tape loops hinting at things to come. Although not nearly as amazing as, say, "You," the album has a rough charm that sometimes suits my mood better that the headier pleasures of the trilogy. Unlike the trilogy, it rocks rather than grooves, and explores Daevid Allen's more aggressive lyrical themes with appropriately rocking guitar riffs and tougher jams. It's actually a better record than "Flying Teapot," more fun and engaging all the way through, although the bass player's charming misfit "And You Tried So Hard" sounds dated even on THIS cd. It has been called a prequel to the RGI trilogy, and if you have the trilogy and like it I simply cannot imagine that you wouldn't want to own this as well.

Daevid Allen belongs to Syd Barrett, Skip Spence and Roky Erickson's tradition... a kind of psychedelic troubadour, tortured, but brilliant. This album is not, in my opinion, the best Gong's work (I prefer "Magick Brother" and "Angel's Egg", but it's very, very dazed and criative. Truly hymns of psychedelia, such "I've Been Stoned Before" and "Fohat Dig Holes In Space" (this one, an all-time rock'n'roll classic) makes this album unique.

I don't write much, but I had to write a few words for Camembert Electrigue, A good cd all the way through(If your use to Gong's goofyness) but if you don't know Gong that well,I think you should still get this cd , just for Tropical fish: Selene,Tried so hard and You can't kill me, give it a chance it will grow on you.

"Camembert Electrique" takes the listener on an unforgettable journey of quirky invigorating psychedelic space rock. Catchy tunes, great sax and flute arrangements, creepy space whispers, spacey synthesizer breaks, and you can never go wrong with Pip Pyle behind the drum kit. Also of note is Daevid Allen's playful album artwork that gives glimpses of what is to come in the Radio Gnome trilogy (all great discs by the way) and his old band mate Kevin Ayers is seen waving from a cow pasture. Overall, this disc is overflowing with imagination and soul that remains "strong and streamin" and would be a welcome addition in any music collection.