Gong

Formed in Paris in 1967 by Australian guitarist Daevid Allen after his stint with Soft Machine, Gong developed from the late 1960s an artistic universe where psychedelic rock, a space‑rock aesthetic and the heritage of the Canterbury scene blend with elements of jazz‑rock and improvised music. Structured as a variable‑geometry collective centered on Daevid Allen and vocalist Gilli Smyth, Gong built in the 1970s a series of concept records, notably the Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy — “Flying Teapot” (1973), “Angel’s Egg” (1973) and “You” (1974) — which established a distinct mythology of characters, cosmic narratives and offbeat humour. Over the decades Gong has moved through different stylistic phases, from the more fusion‑oriented “Shamal” (1975) and “Gazeuse!” (1976) to returns toward psychedelic and progressive approaches on “I See You” (2014), “Rejoice! I’m Dead!” (2016), “The Universe Also Collapses” (2019) and “Unending Ascending” (2023). Still active on stage, Gong today brings together around this historic repertoire and new compositions musicians such as Fabio Golfetti, Dave Sturt, Ian East, Kavus Torabi and Cheb Nettles, carrying on the collective, experimental aesthetic that has characterised the group since its beginnings.