Gong - Shamal (1976)

The one between You and Gaseuze! (links below), and therefore a classic transitional album.  In fact, almost all of the ingredients of what would become known as Pierre Moerlen's Gong were already in place on Shamal, recorded in late 1975.  What was previously a jazz-rock-informed psych rock band had largely shifted gear to a jazz fusion group with an emphasis on mallet percussion, and half of the tracks were instrumental.

The mellow shuffle of Wingful Of Eyes that opens Shamal was one of the vocal tracks, with Mike Howlett stepping up to the mic.  He's not a bad vocalist, but is still best off bringing that great bass sound he had to the fore, especially fuzzing it up a bit at the halfway mark.  At this point, Howlett's joined by a great guitar solo: it's one of Steve Hillage's last two appearances on a Gong album (reunions aside).  The other is on Bambooji, which closes out the album's first half after the great sax-driven track Chandra.  Highlights of the album's second half are the guest appearance from Argentinean violinist Jorge Pinchevsky, and the insistent bass groove of the closing title track.

link
pw: sgtg

Previously posted at SGTG:
You
Gazeuse!
Expresso II