Shamal (album)

Shamal
Studio album by Gong
Released	13 February 1976
Recorded	December 1975 at Basing Street Studios, London and Olympic Studios, London; mixed at Sarm Studios, London
Genre	Progressive rock, jazz rock
Length	40:13
Label	Virgin Records
Producer	Nick Mason
Gong chronology
You (1974)You1974 Shamal (1976) Shapeshifter (1992)Shapeshifter1992

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Allmusic

Shamal is the sixth studio album by the psychedelic 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. It still has a generally progressive rock-influenced approach, but with a stronger jazz fusion flavour. It is usually regarded as a transitional album between Allen's incarnation of the band and the Pierre Moerlen-led fusion lineup of the late 1970s. 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