Gong "Camembert Electrique" lp Oxford Records Italy Import 1980
$
25
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Description
NM disk | clean cover tho thinner than English or USA covers, no blemishes other than wear on the right edge opening. No writing, seam splits or corner bends to this shrink wrapped cover.
Any blemishes will be noted. I'll go with disc & cover Grading like this:
NM ~ Looks as if it just came from a store, and was opened for the first time. Maybe played a few times if ever, no evidence of play or wear whatsoever. COVER - just about perfect in every way, often still in shrink wrap, with no major ring wear, staining or easily visible flaws. Seams and spine are just about perfect.
VG+ ~ Shows slight signs of wear, light scuffs or scratches may be present but they should not affect playback other than faint surface noise. COVER - may have a minor flaw here and there, maybe very minor ring wear if any, seams & spine intact but not pristine.
VG ~ Looks a bit used, light scratches, no gouges, still plays well, some surface noise will be heard, but will not significantly disrupt the music. COVER - will have more obvious ring wear or marks/staining, seams may have cracking, or splits.
[all lps are original and from my personal collection. Most have not been played since the first month of buying them. Very little wear to the lp & cover, with most still having the shrink wrap still on. All disks will be in a clear plastic sleeve and mailed in a professional, cardboard mailer with additional cardboard if needed. If curious about any other lps let me know your wants.]
This is a classic, the epitome of the band's early Daevid Allen phase with Ph.P.'s (pothead pixies) in full, blazing glory. In its infancy, Gong was a unique prog rock band that branched out in all directions at once while most other prog bands chose simply one path or another. Camembert Electrique is a testament to that. The band's eclectic "electric cheese" rock is a mixture of psychedelic rock, spacy atmospherics and lyrics, and doses of jazz often presented with a pop sensibility, yet always intense. From the first cut on Camembert, you are transported to planet Gong via the voice of a "radio gnome" who drops in intermittently to remind you you're not in Kansas anymore. Daevid Allen leads the band through several compositions musically (not lyrically) reminiscent of, and possibly influenced by, early King Crimson -- a hard, raw-edged sound propelled by a strong guitar-sax-percussion combo. Drummer Pip Pyle played on only a few Gong sessions; he is a major figure here, as is saxophonist Didier Malherbe. Both are up front on the wailing progressive rocker "You Can't Kill Me," which also features guitarist Allen in top form. Allen's declarative "I've Bin Stone Before," the first part of an inventive three-song medley, is of particular interest; introductory church organ and avant-garde sax make this another unique Gong experience. But the real gem on Camembert is "Tropical Fish: Selene." This jazzy composition is the most involving and intricate piece on the recording. The band moves tightly through several progressive movements and Gilli Smyth scores with her trademark "space whispering." Camembert Electrique remains undated after over 40 years and hovers "strong and steamin'" over most of the Gong catalog. (ALLMusic)
The album was originally released in France in October 1971 on the label BYG Actuel (catalogue number 529.353), and reissued in 1974 in the UK by Virgin Records (catalogue number VC-502), where it sold for 59p, the price of a single, a marketing scheme Virgin had used the year before for the album The Faust Tapes by Faust, in the hope that greatly discounted albums would give more exposure to the artists and encourage sales of their regularly priced albums, although these discounted albums did not qualify for album chart listings. It was also issued twice on Virgin's Caroline Records budget label (catalogue number C-1505 also in 1974, and C-1520 around 1976), still at a discount price, but no longer priced as low as a single. In the late 1970s it was reissued on Charly Records whose edition was in print in the UK concurrently with Virgin's. (Wikipedia)
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