Gilgamesh - Gilgamesh (1975)

Guybrush · 08-03-2010, 02:02 AM

This is a thread for discussing the Gilgamesh's self-titled debut from 1975. The album was the PFAC homework for week 29 and 30, but of course anyone can join in!

Quote:

Originally Posted by tore

It's a Canterbury scene jazz-rock album and was suggested by Phil :

Quote:

Originally Posted by philster

I have a suggestion for next weeks homework: Gilgamesh with their debut album Gilgamesh from 1975. I haven't listened to it yet, but an album I constantly listened to during last week with archive recordings, Arriving twice, published in 2000, is quite impressive - beautiful guitar riffs, and nice inter-song changes in time signatures and moods. Some songs transport the feeling of coolness, with ugly riffs making one feel uncomfortable, but then make a sudden change into beautiful harmony. Other songs are very emotional and calm. Sometimes they use an annoying organ effect, I guess that's the seventies. I have no time for checking out the musicians, but they are somehow connected to Canterbury.

So get some Gilgamesh folks!

So what do you think about this jazzy Canterbury effort?

Guybrush · 08-03-2010, 02:35 AM

I haven't listened to this one quite as much as their second, but it sounds brilliant! Just the kind of stuff I'm into these days.

I got a bad first impression with the opening of the first track, I was slightly worried it was gonna be an affair with strange synthesizer sounds and so on. My fears were quickly laid aside, though, and it's a brilliant and quirky opener. What I like the most on this album are the warmer more rounded moments and not so much the slightly frantic parts which are still quite tame compared to most Zappa compositions or some of the famous fusion bands which may well have been an influence.

Discussing tracks is a bit hard though as they're mostly a blur to me. I've just put it on, but I did notice that "For Absent Friends" is a break from the fusiony jazzy sounds and is, instead, a gorgeous little guitar tune.

I'll rate this a very good, I think. I enjoyed it more than Henry Cow's debut!

debaserr · 08-05-2010, 11:40 PM

i will hear this either tonight or tomorrow. i sure do wish the club was a bit more popular!

debaserr · 08-06-2010, 07:26 PM

i liked it. it didn't really blow me away but it was certainly a solid number. it was particularly jazzy so i expect it to require multiple listens to fully sink in.

Guybrush · 08-08-2010, 10:04 AM

No, it's definetly not a mind blower .. More like nice music to listen to while working on my statistics. At least that's the sort of situation I find myself listening to stuff like this.

davey75 · 10-18-2010, 07:21 AM

I was very recently listening to Gilgamesh - both albums in fact - so strange to come across this thread. Gilgamesh is very carefully composed music, mostly by keyboardist Alan Gowen. They were never out to make a racket, but soothe and tease with their jazz-tinged light rock sound. Those who like Soft Machine, or Bruford, might dig this stuff. Lots of chord changes, and weird time sigs.

View Poll Results: How do you rate this album?
Horrible!	1	20.00%
Bad	0	0%
Mediocre	0	0%
Good	1	20.00%
Very Good	3	60.00%
Brilliant!	0	0%
Voters: 5. You may not vote on this poll

08-03-2010, 02:35 AM	#2 (permalink)
Guybrush Juicious Maximus III Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scabb Island Posts: 6,525	I haven't listened to this one quite as much as their second, but it sounds brilliant! Just the kind of stuff I'm into these days. I got a bad first impression with the opening of the first track, I was slightly worried it was gonna be an affair with strange synthesizer sounds and so on. My fears were quickly laid aside, though, and it's a brilliant and quirky opener. What I like the most on this album are the warmer more rounded moments and not so much the slightly frantic parts which are still quite tame compared to most Zappa compositions or some of the famous fusion bands which may well have been an influence. Discussing tracks is a bit hard though as they're mostly a blur to me. I've just put it on, but I did notice that "For Absent Friends" is a break from the fusiony jazzy sounds and is, instead, a gorgeous little guitar tune. I'll rate this a very good, I think. I enjoyed it more than Henry Cow's debut! __________________ Something Completely Different

08-05-2010, 11:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
debaserr eat the masters Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5,469	i will hear this either tonight or tomorrow. i sure do wish the club was a bit more popular! __________________ Last.FM

08-06-2010, 07:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
debaserr eat the masters Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 5,469	i liked it. it didn't really blow me away but it was certainly a solid number. it was particularly jazzy so i expect it to require multiple listens to fully sink in. __________________ Last.FM

08-08-2010, 10:04 AM	#5 (permalink)
Guybrush Juicious Maximus III Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Scabb Island Posts: 6,525	No, it's definetly not a mind blower .. More like nice music to listen to while working on my statistics. At least that's the sort of situation I find myself listening to stuff like this. __________________ Something Completely Different

10-18-2010, 07:21 AM	#6 (permalink)
davey75 Groupie Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 16	I was very recently listening to Gilgamesh - both albums in fact - so strange to come across this thread. Gilgamesh is very carefully composed music, mostly by keyboardist Alan Gowen. They were never out to make a racket, but soothe and tease with their jazz-tinged light rock sound. Those who like Soft Machine, or Bruford, might dig this stuff. Lots of chord changes, and weird time sigs.