Gazeuse

Gong | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 23, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Blue Plate Caroline
• ASIN: B000000HTX
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #157,290 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Expresso

2. Night Illusion

3. Percolations, Pts. 1 & 2

4. Shadows Of

5. Esnuria

6. Mireille

Editorial Reviews

Stellar Release Featuring Allan Holdsworth On Guitar. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Jazz, Fusion, Holdsworth Gong Album, September 29, 2002

By 

swriter7 "swriter7" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Gazeuse (Audio CD)

I heard of Gong and although I thought they were o.k., I gave up on them. I then heard that this second or third period of Gong is fusion mixed, I heard it and immediately bought it. Gong up to the mid 70's were spacey, trippy, strange vocals and I enjoyed that but was not crazy over them. The Gazeuse period is fantastic fusiony jazz featuring Holdsworth at his best, all instrumental as well as a focus on the vibes. This album was originally called Expresso in the U.K. and in the States titled Gazeuse. The next album is also killer, titled Expresso II which feautures more of the same but with a heavier emphasis on the glock/vibes. Gazeuse is a classic on par with Bruford's solos. If you have not heard this side of Gong, you better hear this one!!!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This prog fan likes this mallet-heavy jazz rock album, December 15, 2005

By 

Jeffrey J.Park (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gazeuse (Audio CD)

For those fans of the Daevid Allen period of Gong, the shift from spacey prog rock to the realm of jazz-rock starting with the transitional Shamal album in 1975 must have come as a bit of a shock. Notwithstanding, their jazz-rock output during the 75-77 period is actually quite good and mirrors the shift from prog to jazz-rock exhibited by a lot of prog bands in the mid-late 1970's (PFM comes to mind). The Gazeuse album was released in 1976 and marks the full-blown emergence of Gong as an instrumental jazz rock outfit. Featured prominently on the album is the "world class" electric and acoustic guitar playing of virtuoso Alan Holdsworth (Soft Machine, U.K.) along with the superb drum/percussion work of the late Pierre Moerlen. Holdsworth's blindingly fast, legato lines on the electric/acoustic guitar are truly something to behold - I can't think of many people out there that play like him. Other musicians on the album include fretless bassist Francis Moze (one of many imitators of Weather Report bassist extraordinaire Jaco Pastorius), sax/flute player Didier Malherbe (who left Gong after this album), percussionist Mino Cinelou, Benoit Moerlen on vibraphone, and Mireille Bauer on vibraphone, marimba, glockenspiel, and toms. It is worth noting that mallet instruments are featured quite prominently and their use sets Gong apart from other jazz rock groups of the time including the synth heavy works of Weather Report and the nearly inhuman, impossibly fast playing of the synth heavy Return to Forever. As somebody who listens to jazz rock in addition to (tons of) prog, I can say that as far as jazz-rock goes this is a pretty good album. From a composition perspective, the pieces are well-constructed and with the exception of a short (and blazing) drum solo by Pierre Moerlen, solos are not too intrusive. I also found that there is enough dynamic contrast and textural variation to keep my interest too - the album opens with a vigorous jazz-rock flourish on Expresso and closes on a contemplative note with the acoustic guitar and electric piano duet on Mireille. I guess I should just consider myself lucky because I can enjoy all of Gong's 1970's output - it seems as if hardcore fans of the Daevid Allen era Gong do not appreciate the Pierre Moerlen led version of Gong all that much. Accordingly, this album is highly recommended (without hesitation) to fans of jazz rock, open minded prog heads, and Gong completists.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything fits perfectly!, September 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Gazeuse (Audio CD)

A superbly crafted studio album. It's bouncy and atmospheric at the same time. There isn't one bad note. It has nothing to do with funk but can be easily classified as a fusion record. I love it! One of the Top 10 albums of all time. Here's that other star you deserve *.