NEW YORK GONG

ABOUT TIME

  1/  Preface                                    (Allen,Beinhorn)              1.28
  2/  Much Too Old                               (Allen,Laswell)               2.43
  3/  Black September                            (Allen,Cultreri)              4.03
  4/  Materialism                                (Laswell,Cultreri)            3.12
  5/  Strong Woman                               (Allen,Bacon)                 4.30
  6/  I Am a Freud                               (Allen)                       1.46
  7/  O My Photograph                            (Allen)                       9.10
  8/  Jungle Windo(w)                            (Allen)                       6.19
  9/  Hours Gone                                 (Allen)                       4.05

          Recorded at B.M.O., Willow, New York 1979
          Produced by Daevid Allen
Bill Laswell : bass guitar; Bill Bacon : drums (1,2,3,4,5,6,8,9); Fred Maher : drums (1,2,3,4,6,7,8,9); Cliff Cultreri : guitar solo (2,3,4,6,7); Gary Windo : tenorsax (8); Michael Beinhorn : synth (1); Don Davis : altosax (6); Mark Kramer : cheap organ (9); Daevid Allen : rhythm guitar, glissando guitar (4,5,7), vocals.

          1979  -  Charly,  CRL 5021  (Vinyl)
          1980  -  Oxford,  3228  (Vinyl)
          1990  -  Charly,  CD LIK 73  (CD)
          1994  -  Spalax Music,  14832  (CD)

REVIEWS :

Gong gone punk. About Time documents Daevid Allen's 1979 New York trip to partake of the then-happenin' CBGB's scene. The new sound is an odd hybrid of psychedelia ("Preface"), new wave ("I Am a Freud") and punk ("Much Too Old"), with a lyrical sentiment reminiscent of early-'70s Gong ("Jungle Window"). The CD opens with an effects-laden recording of Allen reciting his "trippy" poetry. Some of the compositions, like "I Am a Freud," bleed quirky rhythms and melodies resembling the work of the League of Gentlemen and Talking Heads. "Materialism" and "Strong Woman" feature Allen's glissando guitar, which seems a forerunner to the sound Fripp and Belew employed on their early-'80s King Crimson projects. "Materialism," penned by Laswell, is a standout with its dominating bass driving home the groove. Another highlight is "Jungle Window," the most Gong-like piece in the set, featuring Gary Windo's jagged sax and Laswell's popping bass. About Time is a solid CD which pleasantly expands Allen's repertoire.

David Ross Smith (courtesy of the All Music Guide, via the Get Music website)