Downwind (album)

Downwind
Studio album by Pierre Moerlen's Gong
Released	February 9, 1979
Recorded	June-September, 1978
Genre	Jazz Fusion, Progressive rock
Length	40:06
Label	Arista
Producer	Nick Bradford
Pierre Moerlen's Gong chronology
Expresso II (1978) Downwind (1979) Time Is the Key (1979)

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]

Downwind is an album by Pierre Moerlen's Gong, issued in 1979 (see 1979 in music).

Like the other Pierre Moerlen's Gong albums, this is predominantly jazz fusion and has little to do with the psychedelic space rock of Daevid Allen's Gong, even though the bands share a common history.

Downwind was released in February, 1979 and marks a slight departure from the formula of PMG's previous records Gazeuse! and Expresso II. While this album still features the synthesis of fluid guitars, virtuostic drumming and percolating marimba/xylophone melodies that this version of Gong is very much defined by, it also marks the beginning of a move back towards conventional pop/rock.

Two songs, "Aeroplane" and "What You Know", were included in the release; these are short-form pop songs featuring lead vocals by Moerlen, the first time vocals appear on a Gong record since 1975. Included here also is a cover of Babatunde Olatunji's "Jin-Go-Lo-Ba" (made famous by Santana as "Jingo"). Keyboards augment or even replace mallet percussion on a few tracks, some of which are provided by Steve Winwood who makes an appearance here. Mike Oldfield contributes guitar on the epic title track.

Track listing

No.	Title	Music	Length
1.	"Aeroplane"	Moerlen, O'Lochlain	2:42
2.	"Crosscurrents"	Moerlen	6:13
3.	"Downwind"	Moerlen	12:34
4.	"Jin-Go-Lo-Ba"	Olatunji	3:27
5.	"What You Know"	Moerlen, O'Lochlain	3:44
6.	"Emotions"	Moerlen	4:46
7.	"Xtasea"	Moerlen	6:40

Personnel

• Pierre Moerlen: drums, vibraphone, marimba, timpani, keyboards, vocals
• Hansford Rowe: bass
• Ross Record: guitar, vocals
• Benoît Moerlen: vibraphone and laughter
• François Causse: percussion

with

• Didier Lockwood: violin (2,6,7)
• Didier Malherbe: saxophone (3)
• Mike Oldfield: guitar, solina strings, bass, Irish drum (3)
• Steve Winwood: Hohner clavinet, Moog, Tom solo (3)
• Terry Oldfield: flute (3)
• Mick Taylor: guitar (5)

References

1. ^ Ross Smith, David (2011 [last update]). "Downwind - Pierre Moerlen's Gong | AllMusic". allmusic.com. http://www.allmusic.com/album/downwind-r39146. Retrieved 24 June 2011.