Daevid Allen - Twenty Two Meanings (The Art Of Glissando Guitar Vol. 1) (with Harry Williamson) CD (album) cover


Daevid Allen


Canterbury Scene

2.33 | 3 ratings

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2 stars It does what it says on the tin really. Your enjoyment of this album will be dependent on how much you look forward to the (often lengthy) passages of Glissando guitarwork to be found on sundry Gong and Daevid Allen albums.

Personally, my enjoyment of Gong related more to the whimsical wordsmithery, and the liquid lead lines of Steve Hillage and to a certain extent on Didier Malherbes sax and the space whispers of Gilli Smyth. Glissando was not my thing.........which is why 'You' is my least favourite Gong album as it contains lots of it.

So, how does '22 Meanings' sound? Well, it's one continuous 46.30 minute 'piece' of Gliss backed and interspersed with various nomadic beats, avant garde tape collages and gentle drummings and strummings. Let me quote from the album sleeve......'A composition of one 50 minute collage of deep ambient trance, cut with smatterings of drum'n'bass, body percussion and small elements of avant garde strangeness'.

I have a problem though. I was hoping to immerse myself in an aural warm bath and float on the glissando wave that would carry me into reveries and peaceful pastures.........and so it does, but then for example at around the 8 minute mark a passing salvation army band, trying to master Schoenberg after several rounds at the Frog & Whistle, pass by the sleepy meadow and ruin everything.

Back to quiet blissy gliss then and lulled once more............actually, this is rather beautiful. I'm 27 minutes in and there's some gorgeous guitar interplay between Daevid and Harry putting me more in mind of a languid Pink Floyd than anything broadcast by Radio Gnome.

I'm reviewing this CD while listening to it and it's actually getting better and better.32 minutes in now and the guitar work is sublime creating a real mood, ambience if you will. Ooooh, this is good.............then at 34 minutes some tinny drums and a repeated guitar arpeggio (which isn't as bad as it souns).

I think I'm going to give this album a 2 but there are passages within which warrant a 3 or 4. It's obviously a 'piece' for Daevid Allen completists and those who appreciate his glissando experiments. Me? I'm going back to my New York Gong album, Now Is The Happiest Time Of Your Life and Angels Egg.

raggleman | 2/5 |




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