A delightful blend of enchanting melodies, virtuosic musicianship and boundless creativity.
This remarkable album, originally released in 1979 features an all-star lineup of artists brought together by talent of Mother Gong’s Gilli Smyth. Renowned for her work with Gong, Smyth’s unique vocal stylings-the ethereal “space whisper“-lead the way on this otherworldly journey.
Joined by her esteemed collaborators, including Nik Turner from Hawkwind and other masterful musicians such as flutist Didier Malherbe, Gilli Smyth breathes new life into three classic fairy tales: “Wassilissa,” “The Three Tongues” and “The Pied Piper.” Through their innovative arrangements and Gilli Smyth‘s haunting vocals, these stories transform, revealing their hidden, darker dimensions. The result is an album that defies convention-a spellbinding experience unlike anything you’ve ever heard.
This reissue is a must-have for all Gong fans, and the meticulous half-speed mastering process allows vinyl aficionados to experience the full depth of complex instrumental and vocal nuances like never before in this beloved masterpiece.
Purchase the album on Bandcamp: https://charlyrecords.bandcamp.com/album/fairy-tales
Tracklist:
01. Wassilissa: Three Riders 02:55
02. Wassilissa: The Baba-Yaga’s Cottage 04:05
03. Wassilissa: The Forbidden Room 02:37
04. Wassilissa: Time Machine 01:36
05. Wassilissa: Flying 04:24
06. assilissa: Wassilissa Returns Home 03:05
07. Wassilissa: Through the Machine Again 01:03
08. Wassilissa: The Baba-Yaga 02:38
09. The Three Tongues: The Shoemaker’s Son 02:12
10. The Three Tongues: Land of Dogs 02:19
11. The Three Tongues: The Frog 00:50
12. The Three Tongues: An Irish Inn in Rome 01:42
13. The Three Tongues: The Arena 00:45
14. The Three Tongues: Turtles 01:31
15. The Three Tongues: Birds 01:05
16. The Three Tongues: The Feast 02:14
17. The Pied Piper: Hamelin 01:03
18. The Pied Piper: Rats Amok 00:59
19. The Pied Piper: An Angry Crowd 02:20
20. The Pied Piper: Rat-Rock 02:16
21. The Pied Piper: A Thousand Guilders? 01:55
22. The Pied Piper: Children! 02:32
23. The Pied Piper: Magic Land 03:28
Lineup:
Gilli Smyth / Vocals, Space Whispers
Harry Williamson / Guitar
Mo Vicarage / Keyboards
Didier Malherbe / Woodwind, Reeds
Trevor Darks / Bass
Ermano Ghisio Erba / Percussion, Drums
With:
Eduardo Niebla / Guitar
Ronnie Walthen / Uilleann Pipes
Marianne Oberasher / Harp
Nik Turner / Muzma, Oboe
Corrina ? / Voices
