Live In Tokyo

Following the release of their first album together, Acid Mothers Gong -- the short-lived but so evocative union between Daevid Allen, Gilli Smyth, and the band Acid Mothers Temple -- originally intended to undertake a world tour. Finances, unfortunately, gnawed the projected itinerary into near-oblivion; ultimately, the tour amounted to nothing more than a handful of dates in Japan -- one of which, thankfully, was recorded, for what emerges as one of the finest Gong albums of recent years. Recorded in Tokyo in April 2004, Acid Mothers Gong Live Tokyo preserves the entire concert, with seven numbers (but so many more themes), each bleeding seamlessly into one another, across a soundscape that can best be likened to the classic Flying Teapot-era Gong, if they'd been hijacked by Gang of Four. Sharp dance rhythms percolate beneath the guitar gliss and space whispers, disembodied voices flicker across the air, and the space between your ears is positively bombarded by the ensuing duel between organic and electronic effects. Much of the between-song dialogue, whether spoken by bandmembers, tapes, or the ubiquitous Pot Head Pixies, is in Japanese, so it can be difficult to work out exactly what is happening. The discordant intro to "Avahoot Klaxon" is especially disorienting. But still, the Acid Mothers Gong aggregation is undeniably a fresh chapter in the ever-evolving saga of Gong, and one that should readily bring veteran fans flooding back to the new release racks. ~ Dave Thompson

This live recording of celestial, freakout jams unites two beloved cult bands, Japanese neo-psychedelic outfit Acid Mothers Temple and the legendary Gong, led by Daevid Allen. This 2003 performance demonstrates what each band does best: Allens vocals are supernally free and expressive, while Acid Mother Kawabata Makotos guitar playing has never sounded more combustible.