Expresso

During his tenure in Gong, Pierre Moerlen took more than one sabbatical for a parallel career in classical music as a percussionist with the Percussions de Strasbourg in his native France. Thus, when he set to recruit a new lineup for the band, it was only natural which direction he would take. With the returning Mireille Bauer, he added two other percussionists, his brother Benoit and Mino Cinelou. The line-up was rounded out with former Gong (and Magma) bassist Francis Moze returning after a near five-year absence, and guitarist Allan Holdsworth, fresh from Soft Machine. Both the title track and "Night Illusion" open with the guitarist's signature tone, revealing a very jazzy band underneath. Obviously the emphasis is on rhythm; Moerlen and company provide a densely-arranged fusion, with Moze's fretless bass a superb compliment. True to its name, "Percolations" is the percussion tour de force on the album, featuring the xylophone work of Benoit. The second side has another two numbers featuring Holdsworth's huge guitar riffs, "Shadows Of " and "Esnuria", the latter also featuring one last contribution from a lingering Didier Malherbe. Throughout Moerlen delivers his powerful and unique take on fusion, which more often than not emphasized the "rock" in jazz-rock. After the Gong reunion concert in Paris in May (where most Gongs past and present took the stage), PM Gong would endure further lineup changes: two Americans, bassist Hansford Rowe and guitarist Bon Lozaga, would join Moerlen and his brother Benoit on a semi-permanent basis. With a recording contract now with Arista, Moerlen would cut a series of like-minded albums over the next few years, beginning with Expresso II in early 1978. All would feature guest musicians, with Mick Taylor, Mike Oldfield, Darryl Way, Didier Lockwood and Steve Winwood making appearances. However, after the 1981 release Leave It Open, Moerlen would retire the band for the steady work of Mike Oldfield's live band.