PIERRE MOERLEN'S GONG — Time Is The Key (review)

PIERRE MOERLEN'S GONG — Time Is The Key album cover Album · 1979 · Fusion Buy this album from MMA partners
5/5 ·
liquidmonkey
While I don’t wholly concur with the previous reviewer some of this is probably out of nostalgia rather than a purely musical perspective. I love this album but I love it because it reminds me of when I first heard it many years ago along with Leave it Open (which I regard as a companion piece). I love it because it reminds me of a more carefree time in my life and when I listen to it now it still brings me joy. Would I love it so much if I heard it for the first time now? Probably not and certainly some of the tracks would sound dated now. I have just listened to the later PMG albums out of curiosity and probably won’t again - they really haven’t aged well (Tribute being the exception). BUT, and trying to put my inherent bias aside, I believe there are some stand out aspects of this album that would still move me on a first listen. The ethereal mallet percussion provided by Pierre’s brother Benoit sets this apart from other fusion artists of the time and still sounds fresh. Alan Holdsworth’s sublime contribution is up there with some of his best work (listen to his solo on Arabesque) and Pierre's not bad on the tubs either. While I can’t be completely objective it is definitely worth a listen. Try and look past the 80’s production and I am sure you will find some gems on here. I am giving it a 5 because it is one of my go-to albums. You might want to adjust this to a 4 to take account of my partiality.
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