Feature: Albums that time forgot…PIERRE MOERLEN’S GONG – Time Is The Key (1979)

Arista SPARTY 1105 (1979)

When most people think of Gong they think of “Flying Teapot”, a quirky, idiosyncratic approach by long-time leader Daevid Allen and maybe Steve Hillage’s passage to wider attention.

What sometimes gets overlooked are the later years and the ascendancy of percussionist and drummer Pierre Moerlen. He lent his name to the band from 1978 onwards, having effectively taken over the reins in 1976 with the album ‘Shamal’, and steered them in a more jazz/funk fusion direction. Many would say it was nothing like the earlier incarnation, but potentially more commercially acceptable.

‘Time Is The Key’ (1979) tapped into the zeitgeist of the mid-late seventies when jazz rock/fusion was espoused by bands like Isotope (Gary Boyle) and even Jeff Beck (‘Blow By Blow’). Moerlen also references crossover bands such as Weather Report and Herbie Hancock whilst Neil Ardley and Brand X (with whom Moerlen later toured) would have also been in the frame.

At various times the album sounds like Mike Oldfield (who recruited Moerlen for his live tours and several albums) and Camel/Peter Bardens solo, so there are still elements of progressive rock.

Moerlen was joined by the Americans Bon Lozaga and bassist Hansford Rowe whilst Allan Holdsworth lends his talents to three tracks.

‘Time Is The Key’ is sandwiched by a sort of before and after. ‘Downwind’ (1979) featured some vocals and co-producer Mike Oldfield on the 12 minute title track with Steve Winwood on keyboards.

Following the release of the next album ‘Leave It Open’ in 1981 the band were dropped by Arista and Moerlen then joined French prog rockers Magma before following a career that included further spells with Oldfield and in a revived Gong. He died unexpectedly in 2005. Rowe and Lozaga went on to form Gongzilla in 1994.

‘Downwind’ and ‘Time Is The Key’ were remastered by Esoteric in 2010, the latter sadly without a liner note, together with ‘Leave It Open’ and the 1980 live album. There are no bonus tracks.

Feature by David Randall

Album review (Full Circle Live, 1988)

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