Shamal (album)

Shamal is the sixth studio album released under the name Gong and was released by Virgin Records on 13 February 1976 The album, produced by Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, was recorded in December 1975 by a unique line-up referred to later as "Shamal-Gong". It is usually regarded as a transitional album between Daevid Allen's incarnation of the band and the Pierre Moerlen-led fusion line-up of the late 1970s.

Reception
Reviewing the album for the website Sputnikmusic, Robert Davis said: The greatest thing about Shamal is that it's so versatile. There are only six tracks here, but each one seems to explore a different tone and aspect of musical experimentation. The softer tracks such as opener "Wingful of Eyes" and beautiful, elegant flute-led "Bambooji" are complementary to the album's quirkier tracks, such as the almost Frank Zappa-inspired "Cat in Clark's Shoes" and eccentric closing title track. Yet what really glues all these songs together is the absence of self-indulgent musicianship and a definite knowledge of perfect instrumental placements.

Track listing
In 2018, a 2-CD remastered edition of the album was issued by UMC containing one CD of live material recorded in 1975, and unreleased bonus tracks to the regular album.

Personnel

 * Gong
 * Mike Howlett – bass guitar, vocals
 * Didier Malherbe – tenor sax, soprano sax, flute, bansuri, gongs
 * Mireille Bauer – marimba, glockenspiel, xylophone, percussion, gongs
 * Pierre Moerlen – drums, vibraphone, tubular bells
 * Patrice Lemoine – organ, piano, synthesizer
 * Former Gong
 * Steve Hillage – acoustic guitar, electric guitar ("Bambooji" and "Wingful of Eyes")
 * Miquette Giraudy – vocals ("Bambooji")
 * Guest musicians
 * Jorge Pinchevsky – violin ("Chandra", "Bambooji", "Cat In Clark's Shoes", "Shamal"), voice ("Cat In Clark's Shoes")
 * Sandy Colley – vocals ("Shamal")

Production

 * Nick Mason: producer
 * Clive Arrowsmith: artwork, photography
 * Phil Ault: engineer
 * Dave Hutchins: engineer
 * Ben Tavera King: engineer
 * Rick Curtain: engineer
 * Ben King: engineer