Shamal (album)
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
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| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [3] |
Shamal is the debut studio album by Pierre Moerlen's Gong, released by Virgin Records in February 1976. The album was produced by Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason.
Reception
Reviewing the album for the website Sputnikmusic, Robert Davis said:
The greatest thing about Shamal is that it's so versatile. There are only six tracks here, but each one seems to explore a different tone and aspect of musical experimentation. The softer tracks such as opener "Wingful of Eyes" and beautiful, elegant flute-led "Bambooji" are complementary to the album's quirkier tracks, such as the almost Frank Zappa-inspired "Cat in Clark's Shoes" and eccentric closing title track. Yet what really glues all these songs together is the absence of self-indulgent musicianship and a definite knowledge of perfect instrumental placements.[4]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Wingful of Eyes" | Mike Howlett | 8:19 |
| 2. | "Chandra" | Music: Patrice Lemoine Lyrics: Mike Howlett | 7:16 |
| 3. | "Bambooji" | Didier Malherbe | 5:21 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4. | "Cat in Clark's Shoes" | Didier Malherbe, Mike Howlett, Patrice Lemoine | 7:45 |
| 5. | "Mandrake" | Pierre Moerlen | 5:07 |
| 6. | "Shamal" | Howlett, Malherbe, Moerlen, Lemoine, Mireille Bauer | 8:58 |
| Total length: | 40:13 | ||
Personnel
Musicians
- Mike Howlett – bass guitar, vocals
- Didier Malherbe – tenor sax, soprano sax, flute, bansuri, gongs
- Mireille Bauer – marimba, glockenspiel, xylophone, percussion, gongs
- Pierre Moerlen – drums, vibraphone, tubular bells
- Patrice Lemoine – organ, piano, synthesizer
with guests
- Steve Hillage – acoustic guitar, electric guitar ("Bambooji" & "Wingful of Eyes")
- Miquette Giraudy – vocals ("Bambooji")
- Jorge Pinchevsky – violin
- Sandy Colley – vocals ("Shamal")
Production
- Nick Mason: producer
- Clive Arrowsmith: artwork, photography
- Phil Ault: engineer
- Dave Hutchins: engineer
- Ben Tavera King: engineer
- Rick Curtain: engineer
- Ben King: engineer
References
- ^ "GONG-Chronology". calyx.perso.neuf.fr/gong. 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ^ "GONG-Biography". calyx.perso.neuf.fr/gong. 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
- ^ a b "allmusic ((( Shamal > Review )))". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
- ^ "Gong - Shamal (album review ) - Sputnikmusic". www.sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved 20 June 2018.