Gong - Camembert Electrique
| Artist: | Gong |
| Rating: | |
| Genres: | Canterbury Scene, Psychedelic Rock Progressive Rock, Space Rock |
| Released: | 1971 |
| Type: | Album |
| Label: | BYG |
| Link: | Spotify |
| In Lists: |
Camembert Electrique is the second studio album by the progressive rock band Gong, recorded and originally released in 1971 on the French BYG Actuel label. The album was recorded at Château d'Hérouville near Paris, France, produced by Pierre Lattès and engineered by Gilles Salle. Jean Karakos (credited in Daevid Allen's liner notes as "Byg Jean Kastro Kornflakes") was executive producer....
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This is a classic, the epitome of the band's early Daevid Allen phase with Ph.P.'s (pothead pixies) in full, blazing glory. In its infancy, Gong was a unique prog rock band that branched out in all directions at once while most other prog bands chose simply one path or another. Camembert Electrique is a testament to that. The band's eclectic "electric cheese" rock is a mixture of psychedelic rock, spacy atmospherics and lyrics, and doses of jazz often presented with a pop sensibility, yet always intense.
From the first cut on Camembert, you are transported to planet Gong via the voice of a "radio gnome" who drops in intermittently to remind you you're not in Kansas anymore. Daevid Allen leads the band through several compositions musically (not lyrically) reminiscent of, and possibly influenced by, early King Crimson -- a hard, raw-edged sound propelled by a strong guitar-sax-percussion combo.
Drummer Pip Pyle played on only a few Gong sessions; he is a major figure here, as is saxophonist Didier Malherbe. Both are up front on the wailing progressive rocker "You Can't Kill Me", which also features guitarist Allen in top form. Allen's declarative "I've Bin Stone Before", the first part of an inventive three-song medley, is of particular interest; introductory church organ and avant-garde sax make this another unique Gong experience.
But the real gem on Camembert is "Tropical Fish: Selene". This jazzy composition is the most involving and intricate piece on the recording. The band moves tightly through several progressive movements and Gilli Smyth scores with her trademark "space whispering." Camembert Electrique remains undated after over 40 years and hovers "strong and steamin'" over most of the Gong catalog. - David Ross Smith for allmusic
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This is a classic, the epitome of the band's early Daevid Allen phase with Ph.P.'s (pothead pixies) in full, blazing glory. In its infancy, Gong was a unique prog rock band that branched out in all directions at once while most other prog bands chose simply one path or another. Camembert Electrique is a testament to that. The band's eclectic "electric cheese" rock is a mixture of psychedelic rock, spacy atmospherics and lyrics, and doses of jazz often presented with a pop sensibility, yet always intense.
From the first cut on Camembert, you are transported to planet Gong via the voice of a "radio gnome" who drops in intermittently to remind you you're not in Kansas anymore. Daevid Allen leads the band through several compositions musically (not lyrically) reminiscent of, and possibly influenced by, early King Crimson -- a hard, raw-edged sound propelled by a strong guitar-sax-percussion combo.
Drummer Pip Pyle played on only a few Gong sessions; he is a major figure here, as is saxophonist Didier Malherbe. Both are up front on the wailing progressive rocker "You Can't Kill Me", which also features guitarist Allen in top form. Allen's declarative "I've Bin Stone Before", the first part of an inventive three-song medley, is of particular interest; introductory church organ and avant-garde sax make this another unique Gong experience.
But the real gem on Camembert is "Tropical Fish: Selene". This jazzy composition is the most involving and intricate piece on the recording. The band moves tightly through several progressive movements and Gilli Smyth scores with her trademark "space whispering." Camembert Electrique remains undated after over 40 years and hovers "strong and steamin'" over most of the Gong catalog. - David Ross Smith for allmusic
Editions:
1971
Original Release
BYG
| 529.353
| Vinyl, LP
| Side A: | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| A1. | Radio Gnome | (0:25) | |
| A2. | You Can't Kill Me | (6:18) | |
| A3. | I've Bin Stone Before : Mister Long Shanks : O Mother | (4:55) | |
| A4. | I Am Your Fantasy | (3:35) | |
| A5. | Dynamite : I Am Your Animal | (4:30) | |
| A6. | Wet Cheese Delirium | (0:28) | |
| Side B: | |||
| B1. | Squeezing Sponges Over Policemen's Heads | (0:10) | |
| B2. | Fohat Digs Holes in Space | (6:18) | |
| B3. | Tried So Hard | (4:35) | |
| B4. | Tropical Fish : Selene | (7:32) | |
| B5. | Gnome the Second | (0:26) | |