was Yule Ritual, now Gong

[K Henderson]

KM asked...

>Sounds like HW to me...just look how they missed the EMI/1999
>Party/Hawkestra/Q article opportunity, I've lost interest long ago
>due to below par records and the absolute impossibleness of getting
>the worthwhile (if I knew which were worthwhile)...just hangin' on to
>this list for ol' times sake...but I got curious on the Ritual album
>and ordered it

>(together with Zero to Infinity, is that one good?)

Yes, but I prefer the 'Live 2 Infinitea' disc that came out from the tour,
with more contribution from Didier on it.  He only makes a token appearance
on "02oo" I'm afraid.  Theo Travis is adequate, but does not have the same
gift that Bloom has in Gong-dom.  The songs are strong on the one you're
getting in any case (very true to the original 'Trilogy' style unlike
'Shapeshifter'), but it sounds oddly 'crisp' and 'pristine', and Gong is
best a little haphazardly and goofily (dis)organized.  The live album is
spot on in this respect.  "Magdalene" is a gem on either album.

Grakkl (FAA)