Shamal (album)

Shamal
Shamal
Studio album by Gong
Released	13 February 1976
Recorded	December 1975
Studio	Basing Street Studios; Olympic Studios; Sarm Studios (mixing);
Genre	Progressive rock; jazz fusion;
Length	40:41
Label	Virgin Records
Producer	Nick Mason
Gong chronology

Shamal is the sixth studio album released under the name Gong and was released by Virgin Records on 13 February 1976^[3] The album, produced by Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason, was recorded in December 1975^[4] by a unique line-up referred to later as "Shamal-Gong". It is usually regarded as a transitional album between Daevid Allen's incarnation of the band and the Pierre Moerlen-led fusion line-up of the late 1970s.

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	^[1]
Christgau's Record Guide	B−^[2]

Reception

Reviewing the album for the website Sputnikmusic, Robert Davis said:

The greatest thing about Shamal is that it's so versatile. There are only six tracks here, but each one seems to explore a different tone and aspect of musical experimentation. The softer tracks such as opener "Wingful of Eyes" and beautiful, elegant flute-led "Bambooji" are complementary to the album's quirkier tracks, such as the almost Frank Zappa-inspired "Cat in Clark's Shoes" and eccentric closing title track. Yet what really glues all these songs together is the absence of self-indulgent musicianship and a definite knowledge of perfect instrumental placements.^[5]

Track listing

Side one
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Wingful of Eyes"	Mike Howlett	6:20
2.	"Chandra"	Lemoine, Howlett	7:18
3.	"Bambooji"	Didier Malherbe	5:13

Side two
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
4.	"Cat in Clark's Shoes"	Malherbe, Howlett, Lemoine	7:43
5.	"Mandrake"	Pierre Moerlen	5:04
6.	"Shamal"	Howlett, Malherbe, Moerlen, Lemoine, Mireille Bauer	9:03
Total length:			40:41

In 2018, a 2-CD remastered edition of the album was issued by UMC containing one CD of live material recorded in 1975, and unreleased bonus tracks to the regular album.