Allan Holdsworth - Road Games (1983)

Finally got hold of something by the erstwhile Gong guitarist whose unique style I've been enjoying so much on their post-Daevid Allen records.  It's not much - a 24-minute mini-album - but it's a start.  Road Games came to be from Eddie Van Halen enthusing to Warner Bros about how much he loved Allan Holdsworth's playing.  It would be a short-lived stint at the corporate behemoth - Holdsworth and producer Ted Templeman didn't get on, and the maverick guitarist broke free of his contract shortly afterwards for pastures new.  Road Games, however, is still pretty damn good.

A top-flight jazz fusion trio was established with Zappa drummer Chad Wackerman and Bruford bassist Jeff Berlin, both of whom Holdsworth knew and liked.  Three of the six tracks also added vocals: Bluesbreakers/Juicy Lucy singer Paul Williams, who also worked with Holdsworth on either side of Road Games, sings the title track, and Jack Bruce is featured on the last two songs.  As fine as their contributions are, Road Games is really all about the music created by the core trio. 

Opening track Three Sheets To The Wind starts out with a clean, Metheny-esque chiming tone, but soon Holdsworth's overdubbed lead lines start to cook, showing just why someone like Van Halen would've admired him.  The title track is more of a straightahead rocker, and although the guitar solos are great, I much prefer the jazzier stuff, like Water On The Brain Pt. 2 (there's no Part 1) which follows, or the more laidback Tokyo Dream, which really lets Holdsworth stretch out.  If you want to listen to a really great and underrated guitarist, there's far worse ways to spend 20-odd minutes.

Original 12" cover

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Previously posted on SGTG:
Gong - Gazeuse!
Gong - Expresso II

Gong - Expresso II (1978)

Second album by Pierre Moerlen's Gong, titled Expresso II as Gazeuse! had been released as 'Expresso' in some territories.  By this point, everyone bar the Moerlens who would've been recognisable as classic Gong - Allen, Smyth, Hillage, Howlett, Malherbe - had all jumped ship, but as far as riding out their Virgin contract was concerned, this was still Gong.  And it's a blast.

Expresso II takes the mallet-percussion jazz rock template of its predecessor and turns up the funk, resulting in the catchy strut of Heavy Tune, the jittery groove of Golden Dilemma, and so on.  Allan Holdsworth (still haven't got started on his solo records, dammit) gets in plenty more sui generis widdling, with newbie guitarist Bon Lozaga and guest Mick Taylor shining too, new bassist Hansford Rowe lays down some deft lines perfectly suited to this kind of music, and everyone has tons of fun.  I love this little record.

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Gong - Gazeuse! (1976)

A hugely enjoyable slab of mid-70s jazz rock, from the era of 'Pierre Moerlen's Gong', after the departure of Daevid Allen ended the ever-changing group's first psychedelic era.  Steve Hillage had departed too for his solo career by the time this album was recorded, and for this album was replaced by Allan Holdsworth.  An utterly unique guitar player and writer, Holdsworth's solo albums have been on my radar for ages but I'm never quite sure where to start - any suggestions welcome.

Holdsworth is the composer for two tracks on Gazeuse!, Night Illusion and Shadows Of, and both are great showcases for his stunning style.  The solo he unleashes about three minutes into the latter is particularly breathtaking.  The lion's share of the rest of the material is Moerlen's; as a sometime member of Les Percussions De Strasbourg, his percussive credentials formed the core of the Gong sound in this era.  The preponderance of mallet percussion on Gazeuse! makes it essential for fans of Frank Zappa's jazzier ventures, and perhaps even those of Steve Reich's percussive work.  Entirely befitting its title, this is a great little album that fizzes with effervescent energy and creativity throughout.

Alternate cover (USA, where the album was re-titled Expresso)

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