Downwind
| Downwind | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by Pierre Moerlen's Gong | ||||
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Publication |
1979 |
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| Label (s) | Arista Records | |||
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Format (s) |
LP, CD |
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Title (number) |
7th |
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running time |
40:06 |
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| occupation |
|
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|
Nick Bradford |
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Studio (s) |
Througham, England |
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Downwind is a music album by the group Pierre Moerlen's Gong . It was recorded in the summer of 1978 and released in 1979.
background
Like the other albums by Pierre Moerlen's Gong , the album is mainly oriented towards jazz rock and has little to do with the more psychedelic space rock of Daevid Allen 's Gong, although the bands have a common history. Downwind was released in February 1979 and marks a slight deviation from the pattern of the previous albums Gazeuse! and Expresso II . While this album is still based on the synthesis of fluid guitar riffs, virtuoso drums and piercing marimba and xylophone melodies that are a hallmark of Pierre Moerlen's gong, it also marks the beginning of a movement back towards traditional pop and rock music. Two of the songs on the album, "Airplane" and "What You Know", are short pop songs with vocals by Moerlen. Also included is a cover of Babatunde Olatunji 's "Jin-Go-Lo-Ba", which Santana made known as "Jingo". Steve Winwood , Mick Taylor and Mike Oldfield play keyboards and guitar on some tracks as guest musicians.
reception
Sean Trane awarded 3.5 stars out of 5 and wrote on jazzmusicarchives.com:
“First Gong album under Pierre Moerlen's name, Downwind is a surprising album in many ways, but at least with the evocative artwork, we know who's the boss. Although seeing the line-up of the group on this album is resembling the one of Expresso II, it has al all-star guest cast of Taylor and Lockwood (again), the returning Malherbe but Stevie Winwood and Mike Oldfield. Actually I suspect some of the tracks on this album being recorded during the Expresso II recording sessions. "
“As the first Gong album under Pierre Moerlen's name, Downwind is a surprising album in many ways, but at least we know who the boss is with the impressive cover. Although the group's line-up on this album is similar to Expresso II , it has an all-star guest cast with Taylor and Lockwood (again), returnees Malherbe, and Stevie Winwood and Mike Oldfield. Actually, I suspect that some of the tracks on this album were recorded during the Expresso II recording sessions. "
Allmusic awarded four out of five possible stars.
Track list
- Airplane - 2:42 (Moerlen, O'Lochlain)
- Crosscurrents - 6:13 (Moerlen)
- Downwind - 12:34 (Moerlen)
- Jin-go-lo-ba - 3:27 (Olatunji)
- What You Know - 3:44 (Moerlen, O'Lochlain)
- Emotions - 4:46 (Moerlen)
- Xtasea - 6:40 (Moerlen)
Web links
- Downwind at Allmusic (English)
- Meeting (hibernaculum)
- Meeting (jazz.com)