Expresso 2

Gong | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 23, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Plate Caroline
• ASIN: B000000HTW
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #232,045 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Heavy Tune

2. Golden Dilemma

3. Sleepy

4. Soli

5. Boring

6. Three Blind Mice

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolute genius, August 27, 2002

By 

burritobrother (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Expresso 2 (Audio CD)

This was my introduction to Gong. After all I'd read about stoned-out pixies and the like, this was the first Gong I ever heard. I was surprised, to say the least. This was not what I'd expected. I was not disappointed, however. To the contrary, Gong exposed me to a whole new form and style of music that I hadn't known before. To this day, even after having collected the major (and a few offshoot) Gong releases, it is the '76-'78 Gong and the '80's Pierre Moerlen's Gong that I love most. Jazz-fusion in my experience isn't usually so percussion-oriented as Gong; and nothing is as awe-inspiring. This is very, very ahead-of-it's- time material, and certainly does not fit in with earlier Gong. Basically, true Gong (as opposed to the many splinter bands) are two completely different bands. You just have to choose, or not, but there are many differences. I enjoy all Gong. But the version led by Piere is the ruling class, and all of their albums are essential. I can recommend "Expresso 2" as your first Gong purchase, because it has obviously worked for me.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ahhhh those mallets again, September 15, 2004

By 

P. McKenna "theowlwatches" (Atlanta GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Expresso 2 (Audio CD)

This version of Gong sure had a unique sound, utilizing a twin vibes/mallets frontline and propelled by Pierre Moerlen's firey drumming.

While not as compositionally strong as Gazeuse/Expresso, it still has more than its share of gems, enhanced by contributions from the likes of violinist Darryl Way and guitar maestro Allan Holdsworth.

Among my favoorite tracks are "Sleepy" which is anything but. This track features some of the spookiest Allan Holdsworth playing along with great eerie violin from Darryl Way and a cool hypnotic vibes/bass figure throughout most of the piece. The closer "Three Blind Mice" just tears the roof off the joint with everyone playing their hearts out, "Golden Dilemma" features a unique angular, piercing Bon Lozaga guitar solo and lots of mallet pyrotechnics.

The only weak track on here for me is "Heavy Tune" where Holdsworth takes a back seat playing a grinding rhythm guitar as ex-Rolling Stones axe-meister Mick Taylor takes center stage, and it kind of sticks out like a sore thumb. Not terrible by any stretch but not great either.

Despite that one misstep, "Expresso II" is sure to perk up the ears of anyone who enjoys unique progressive/fusion, and it's a double treat fo drumming and percussion/mallet percussion fans.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Gong - 'Expesso II' (Blute Plate/Caroline), February 9, 2006

By 

Mike Reed (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Expresso 2 (Audio CD)

Originally released in 1978,as this CD reissue turned out to be a bit better than what I had expected.I mean,with percussionist Pierre Morlen(R.I.P.)acting as band leader,plus the fact that guitarist Allan Holdworth was now in the group makes this a decent Daevid Allen-less Gong album.I've heard numerous long-time Gong fans mention how they really like this,yet more jazzy/Canterbury styled catalog title.Give it a chance.