Gong - Peel Sessions 1971-1974
Soundboard @flac
Track List:
01 - Magick Brother (4:50) (Gilli Smyth)
02 - Clarence In Wonderland (4:41) (Kevin Ayers)
03 - Tropical Fish - Selene (11:45) (Daevid Allen)
04 - You Can't Kill Me (6:59) (Daevid Allen)
05 - Radio Gnome Direct Broadcast (0:53) (Daevid Allen)
06 - Crystal Machine (9:03) (Tim Blake)
07 - Zero The Hero And The Orgasm Witch (11:09) (Daevid Allen-Christian Tritsch)
08 - Captain Capricorns Dream Saloon (Steve Hillage)
Radio Gnome Invisible (12:02) (Daevid Allen)
09 - Oily Way (11:15) (Daevid Allen-Didier Malherbe)
Line-up A 1971 (1 to 3) 1974
Daevid Allen - Guitar, Vocals
Gilli Smyth - Space Whisper
Didier Malherbe - Saxes, Flutes, Percussion
Kevin Ayers - Guitar, Vocals
Christian Tritsch - Bass, Vocals
Pierre Moerlen - Drums
Line-up B 1973 (4 to 7) 1974
Daevid Allen - Guitar, Vocals
Gilli Smyth - Space Whisper
Didier Malherbe - Saxes, Flutes, Percussion
Steve Hillage - Guitar, Vocals
Tim Blake - Synthesizers, Vocals
Mike Howlett - Bass, Vocals
Pierre Moerlen - Drums
Line-up C 1974 (8 to 9)
Daevid Allen - Guitar, Vocals
Di Stewart/Bond - Vocals, Percussion
Didier Malherbe - Saxes, Flutes, Percussion
Steve Hillage - Guitar, Vocals
Tim Blake - Synthesizers, Vocals
Mike Howlett - Bass, Vocals
Rob Tate - Drums
Review by Jim Powers
Pre-Modern Wireless: The Peel Sessions 1971-1974 consists of nine tracks taken from three BBC sessions and is an essential archive release that would provide a perfect introduction to an interested newcomer to Gong, or provide the experienced Gong fan with some fine live material from throughout the peak of Gong's career. In addition, the album features the only tracks recorded during Kevin Ayers' tenure with the band; one of the three tracks with Ayers is an impromptu first take of "Clarence in Wonderland," lighter in spirit than the version on Ayers' Shooting at the Moon. The first session from 1971 was Britain's first glimpse of the band, as it was based in France at the time. In those days, BBC staff was probably wary of Gong members' eccentric appearance and lighthearted spirit. However, drummer Pip Pyle recollects on the session he participated in, "Playing on the BBC was always an interesting experience. The technicians (even in those days) are very proficient, rather straight, and armed with very singular ideas about how to record things. To be fair, they normally get a pretty impressive sound in no time at all. They might have been surprised by certain aspects of Gong, but I imagine once you've done sessions with people like Keith Moon you're pretty much ready for anything." An extended workout of "Crystal Machine" featuring Tim Blake is another highlight. As live BBC sessions, the band fits the concepts from its "Radio Gnome Trilogy" albums into medleys that get the point across, rendering this an ideal Gong anthology.
Review from the net
Gong Peel sessions is a must have for any serious Gong lover. “Magick brother” and “ Clarence in wonderland” are two pieces from the first Gong era, with average sound quality, rather document. Serious things begin with “Tropical fish/Selene” from Camembert era. A nice cover. “ Radio gnome direct broadcast” is a very nice interlude, a prelude to the cosmic “Crystal machine”. “Zero the hero and the orgasm witch” is also excellent, but the unexpected gem here is “Captain capricorn Dream Saloon/ Radio gnome invisible” with first part featuring Blake’s mind blowing synthe, Hillage cosmic guitar at his best.