Downwind (album)

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Downwind
Studio album by Pierre Moerlen's Gong
Released	1979
Genre	Progressive rock
Length	40:06
Label	Arista
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link
Pierre Moerlen's Gong chronology
Expresso II (1978) Downwind (1979) Time Is the Key (1979)

Downwind is an album by Pierre Moerlen's Gong, issued in 1979 (see 1979 in music).

Like the other Pierre Moerlen's Gong albums, this is predominantly jazz fusion and has little to do with the psychedelic space rock of Daevid Allen's Gong, even though the bands share a common history.

Downwind was released in February, 1979 and marks a slight departure from the formula of PMG's previous records Gazeuse! and Expresso II. While this album still features the synthesis of fluid guitars, virtuostic drumming and percolating marimba/xylophone melodies that this version of Gong is very much defined by, it also marks the beginning of a move back towards conventional pop/rock.

Two songs, "Aeroplane" and "What You Know", are short-form pop songs featuring lead vocals by Moerlen, the first time vocals appear on a Gong record since 1975. Included here also is a cover of Santana's "Jin-Go-Lo-Ba". Keyboards augment or even replace mallet percussion on a few tracks, some of which are provided by Steve Winwood who makes an appearance here. Mike Oldfield contributes guitar on the epic title track.

[edit] Track listing

1. "Aeroplane"
2. "Crosscurrents"
3. "Downwind"
4. "Jin-Go-Lo-Ba"
5. "What You Know"
6. "Emotions"
7. "Xtasea"

[edit] Personnel

• Pierre Moerlen: drums, vibraphone, marimba, timpani, keyboards, vocals
• Hansford Rowe: bass
• Ross Record: guitar, vocals
• Benoît Moerlen: vibraphone and laughter
• François Causse: percussion
• Didier Lockwood: violin
• Didier Malherbe: saxophone
• Mike Oldfield: guitar, solina strings, bass, Irish drum
• Steve Winwood: Hohner clavinet, Moog, Tom solo
• Mick Taylor: guitar
• Terry Oldfield: flute