Shamal (album)

Shamal
Studio album by Gong
Released	13 February 1976[1]
Recorded	December 1975[2] at Basing Street Studios, London and Olympic Studios, London; mixed at Sarm Studios, London
Genre	Progressive rock[3]
Length	40:13
Label	Virgin Records
Producer	Nick Mason
Gong chronology
You (1974) Shamal (1976) Gong est Mort, Vive Gong (1977)
Pierre Moerlen's Gong chronology
Shamal (1976) Gazeuse! (1976)

Professional ratings
Review scores
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Allmusic	[3]

Shamal is the sixth studio album by the progressive rock band Gong, released by Virgin Records in February 1976.

The album was written and recorded without the group's founder member Daevid Allen, and consequently sounds different, with fewer of the hippie-flavoured eccentricities of the previous albums. Also, guitarist Steve Hillage and synth player/vocalist Miquette Giraudy left the band before recording began and only appeared on it as guests. The album was produced by Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason.

Track listing

Side A

1. "Wingful of Eyes" (Howlett) – 8:19
2. "Chandra" (Lemoine) – 7:16
3. "Bambooji" (Malherbe) – 5:21

Side B

1. "Cat in Clark's Shoes" (Malherbe) – 7:45
2. "Mandrake" (Moerlen) – 5:07
3. "Shamal" (Bauer, Howlett, Lemoine, Malherbe, Moerlen) – 8:58

Personnel

Musicians

• 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

with guests

• Steve Hillage – acoustic guitar, electric guitar ("Bambooji" & "Wingful of Eyes")
• Miquette Giraudy – vocals ("Bambooji")
• Jorge Pinchevsky – violin
• 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

References