Time Is the Key

Time is the Key is the fourth album by Pierre Moerlen's Gong. It was released in late 1979 by Arista Records.

Featuring an all-instrumental jazz-driven sound, notable for the prominent use of vibraphone, it has little to do with the psychedelic space rock of Daevid Allen's Gong, even though the two bands share a common history.

It features the English jazz keyboard player Peter Lemer on most tracks, their only album to do so, and Allmusic notes that there is also a progressive rock influence on the album, especially on the first two track.

Personnel

 * Pierre Moerlen's Gong
 * Pierre Moerlen – drums, vibraphone, gong, electravibe, marimba, glockenspiel, tympani, darbuka, synthesizers (7, 8)
 * Hansford Rowe – bass (3 - 11), acoustic guitar (5) , bass synthesizer (11)
 * Bon Lozaga – guitar (3 - 11)
 * Former Pierre Moerlen's Gong
 * Allan Holdsworth – lead guitar (9 - 11)
 * Additional personnel
 * Darryl Way – violin (1)
 * Joe Kirby – double bass (1, 2)
 * Peter Lemer – keyboards (3 - 11), Polymoog (6 - 10)
 * Nico Ramsden – lead and rhythm guitar (8)

Produced by Pierre Moerlen

Production credits

 * Engineering – John Rollo
 * Mastering – Ray Staff at Trident
 * Photography – Jay Myrdal and Sheila Rock
 * Sleeve layout and design – Steve Ridgeway and Julie Harris
 * Additional engineer – Brian Risner
 * Studio co-ordination – Brian Risner