Expresso II is the eighth studio album released under the name Gong and the de facto second album by Pierre Moerlen's Gong. It released in February 1978.
Featuring an all-instrumental jazz-driven sound, notable for the prominent use of vibraphone. Although the album was issued by Virgin Records under the "Gong" name for contractual reasons, and the name "Pierre Moerlen's Gong" would not be adopted for a few more months, the lineup involved and the nature of the music are those of the Moerlen-led band.
This was the final Gong-related album released by Virgin; the band continued on Arista Records.
Track listing
Personnel
- Pierre Moerlen â drums, vibraphone, xylophone, glockenspiel, tympani, tubular bells
- Benoît Moerlen â vibraphone, marimba, xylophone, glockenspiel, percussion, claves, tubular bells
- Mireille Bauer â marimba, vibraphone
- Hansford Rowe â bass, rhythm guitar <small>(2)</small>
Additional personnel
- Mick Taylor â lead guitar <small>(1)</small>
- Allan Holdsworth â lead guitar <small>(3, 4, 6)</small>, rhythm guitar <small>(1)</small>
- Bon Lozaga â lead guitar <small>(2)</small>, rhythm guitar <small>(3)</small>
- Darryl Way â violin <small>(3, 5)</small>
- François Causse â congas
In popular culture
The track "Heavy Tune" is featured on Fusion FM radio in the game Grand Theft Auto IV.
Notes
References
- Macan,ÃÂ E.ÃÂ L.,ÃÂ Macan,ÃÂ E.ÃÂ (1997).ÃÂ Rocking the Classics: English Progressive Rock and the Counterculture.ÃÂ Germany:ÃÂ Oxford University Press. p. 243