Gong - Camembert Electrique

Title: Camembert Electrique Artist: Gong Release Date: 1971 Re-Released On: 7/17/2007 Label: Snapper, Spalax Music, Charly Records, JVC Compact Discs Duration: 39:12 Album Type(s): lyrics/libretto UPCs: 4988002408504, 803415100927, 3429020148269, 4017692323726, 5031731025821, 604388409525, 766486929920, 803415640522, 8013252361012 Genre: Rock Styles: Prog-Rock, Psychedelic, British Psychedelia, Canterbury Scene, Art Rock Moods: Ambitious, Difficult, Intense, Irreverent, Provocative, Theatrical, Whimsical, Playful, Quirky, Trippy, Cerebral, Druggy, Meandering, Relaxed, Sprawling Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 11 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. Radio Gnome
2. You Can't Kill Me
3. I've Bin Stone Before/Mister Long Shanks/O Mother
4. Mister Long Shanks: O Mother/I Am Your Fantasy
5. Dynamite/I Am Your Animal
6. Wet Cheese Delirium
7. Squeezing Sponges over Policemen's Heads
8. Fohat Digs Holes in Space
9. Tried So Hard
10. Tropical Fish: Selene
11. Gnome the Second

Year Type Label Catalog # 2007 CD Snapper 1009 2003 CD Charly Records 405 2001 CD Charly Records 111 2001 CD JVC Compact Discs 61171 1999 CD Spalax Music 14826 1999 CD Charly Records 111 ------ CD Charly Records 64

No other editions were found for this album.

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 D+6idier 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 almost 30 years and hovers "strong and steamin'" over most of the Gong catalog. ~ David Ross Smith, All Music Guide

Name Credits Christian Tritsch Bass, Guitar, Guitar (Bass) Constantin Simonovitch Piano Daevid Allen Vocals, ?, Guitar Didier Malherbe Saxophone, Wind, Flute Eddy Louiss Piano, Organ Francis Linon Engineer Gilli Smyth Space Whisper, Voices, Vocals Jean Georgakarakos Producer Jean Luc Young Producer John Platt Liner Notes Pierre Lattes Executive Producer Pip Pyle Drums, Turntables Samuel Ellidge Synthesizer Venux Deluxe ?