Gong, in their nearly six decades of existence, have occasionally morphed into unrecognisable forms, including the late 70s/early 80s Pierre Moerlen period and releasing jazzy albums like Shamal, but they’ve always managed to produce interesting music and continue following their muse. Similar to another long running band, Tangerine Dream, Gong have no original members in the current line-up, but both are led by someone chosen and anointed by the band’s original guiding spirit (Edgar Froese for Tangerine Dream and Daevid Allen for Gong), both now sadly no longer of this parish, to keep the original mission intact.
Bright Spirit forms the third part, and the completion, of the trilogy of albums starting with The Universe Also Collapses (2019) and Unending Ascending (2023). It isn’t as eye opening as classic era Gong, nor is it as ambitious as some of their other albums, but many of the elements making Gong what they are, prog-psych meanderings out into the far cosmos and glissando guitar, are present. While there’s more than a nod to Gong‘s golden era, this is also an album sounding very modern, focusing on what Gong are all about now rather than any attempt to showcase how far they’ve travelled since Daevid Allen‘s departure.
Lyrically, this album revolves around themes of spiritual and celestial awakening, and there’s less of the occasional nursery rhyme whimsy found on their earlier classic albums, even if occasionally Kavus Torabi‘s vocals get lost in the music. Bright Spirit looks at much deeper themes. This version of Gong, the current line-up being its longest surviving, offers a wider variety of sounds. From the eastern-infused opener ‘Dream Of Mine’, to the punchy guitar hooks on ‘Mantivule’, to more cosmic excursions such as ‘The Wonderment’, with its feel of golden age Gong and backdrop of swirling synths creating a colourful soundscape.
‘Stars In Heaven’, with its prog-like nod towards Porcupine Tree, is more earthly ground and focuses on Torabi‘s desire to want to love the earth again. Why would you care if all the stars in heaven fell to the earth? ‘Fragrance Of Paradise’, a heavenly scent connected to the afterlife, is almost a love song with memories of a lost love, perhaps? Elsewhere on ‘Relish The Possibility’, Torabi sings of wanting to walk about in the glowing light of your mind, a sentiment that captures the album’s sense of wonder and openness.
The closing ‘Eternal Hand’ rounds out the record, bringing the trilogy to a fitting conclusion. Whilst lacking some of the whimsical humour Daevid Allen brought to Gong, Allen’s spirit lives on in the music, and there’s little here he would disagree with. Gong continue with their singular journey along the Oily Way, still defying convention and trends in pursuit of their own muse.
