Gong – Angel's Egg (Radio Gnome Invisible Part 2)

Gong – Angel's Egg (Radio Gnome Invisible Part 2)

Gong – Angel's Egg (Radio Gnome Invisible Part 2) is the celebrated 1973 album from the French-British psychedelic progressive rock collective, and the second instalment in their legendary Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy. Expanding on the surreal mythology established on Flying Teapot, the album combines psychedelic rock, jazz fusion, space rock, Canterbury-style experimentation and whimsical humour into one of Gong's most distinctive recordings.

The album opens with the expansive "Other Side Of The Sky", immediately establishing the group's otherworldly atmosphere through swirling keyboards, guitar, flute and percussion. "Sold To The Highest Buddha" follows with a more playful, jazz-inflected approach, before the brief "Castle In The Clouds" and "Prostitute Poem" continue the album's dreamlike narrative.

The first side closes with the wonderfully eccentric "Givin' My Luv To You" and the atmospheric "Selene", whose spacey textures reinforce the cosmic character of the record.

Side two becomes increasingly adventurous, beginning with the playful "Flute Salad" and "Oily Way" before moving through the atmospheric "Outer Temple", "Inner Temple" and "Percolations". "Love Is How Y Make It" brings another melodic psychedelic groove, while "I Niver Glid Before" develops into one of the album's more expansive and hypnotic passages.

The album closes with "Eat That Phone Book Coda", ending the journey with Gong's characteristic mixture of absurdity, experimentation and psychedelic imagination.

Angel's Egg was recorded by the classic Gong line-up associated with founder Daevid Allen, alongside musicians including Steve Hillage, Tim Blake, Didier Malherbe, Gilli Smyth and Pierre Moerlen. Together they created a unique sound that blurred the boundaries between progressive rock, jazz, psychedelia and experimental music.

The album forms the central chapter of the Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy, followed by You, and is widely regarded as one of Gong's essential records. Its combination of surreal storytelling, cosmic themes, improvisation and adventurous musicianship has made it a cornerstone of Canterbury progressive rock and psychedelic music.

For collectors of Gong, Daevid Allen, Steve Hillage, Canterbury scene, progressive rock, psychedelic rock, space rock and experimental music, Angel's Egg is an essential and highly influential album.

Tracklist

Side A

1. Other Side Of The Sky – 7:40
2. Sold To The Highest Buddha – 4:25
3. Castle In The Clouds – 1:09
4. Prostitute Poem – 4:52
5. Givin' My Luv To You – 0:43
6. Selene – 3:38

Side B

1. Flute Salad – 2:09
2. Oily Way – 3:37
3. Outer Temple – 1:09
4. Inner Temple – 2:34
5. Percolations – 0:46
6. Love Is How Y Make It – 3:27
7. I Niver Glid Before – 5:36
8. Eat That Phone Book Coda – 3:12