It’s no mean feat tapping into the spirit of GONG, yet artistic conglomerate CYMBALIC ENCOUNTERS led by drummer and composer Mark Murdock have never shied away from creative challenges, and their new album is an alluring tribute to Daevid Allen’s collective. Titled “Vents Cycloniques” and comprising ten fresh cuts, it even features one of the classic ensemble’s members, bassist Dave Sturt, alongside Murdock’s regular facilitators, guitarists Fernando Perdomo and Joe Berger.
“At the age of 18, I had the honor of meeting French percussionist/drummer, Pierre Moerlen from the band GONG at the Marquee Club in London in 1975,” explains Mark. “Pierre’s melodic drumming and percussion concepts in GONG have no doubt inspired this work. Furthermore, the late Alan Holdsworth, who appeared on several GONG albums between 1976 and 1979, is brought back to life by Joe Berger, who did sound for Alan Holdsworth’s band, I.O.U. in 1982 and cites Allan’s playing on GONG’s ‘Expresso’ as a major influence on his playing for this work.”
1. Gongs Of The Eastern Sector
2. Expresso Refill
3. Vents Cycloniques
4. Une Composition Inoubliable Pierre
5. Sub-Sonic Tones
6. The Time We Have Left
7. Sierra, Victor, Zulu
8. Magellanic Clouds
9. Thème Des Attributs Magnifiques
10. Signals From The Western Corridor