Daevid Allen

Daevid Allen - Australia Aquaria - 1990 - Demi Monde

Released in '90 this was Daevid's first 'planned' solo album in 7 years, and it turned out to be one of his strongest. From the throughly heart-warming Gaia to the mysterious "Voice of Om." The album is full of great tracks. Check out his "Banana Moon,," and "Good Morning" albums, and there is info on Gong's "Live 2 Infinitea " album @ GONG/L2I

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

Gaia - Allen , Williamson

Peaceful Warrior - D. Allen

Australia Aquaria - Allen , Williamson

She - Allen , Clark , Williamson

Slave Queen - Allen

Voice Of Om - E. Romain , Jagadamba Saraswati

Voice Of Om Dub - E. Romain , Jagadamba Saraswati [2005 CD bonus track]

MUSICIANS

Daevid Allen (Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Vocals)
Graham Clark (Violin)
Harry Williamson (Synthesizer)
Harry Williamson (Keyboards)
Robert George (Drums)
Robert George (Percussion)
Conrad Henderson (Bass)
Bart Willoughby (Didjeridu)
Bruce (Vocal Harmony)
Gilli Smyth (Whisper)
Julie Wareing (Vocals)
Jack Dankworth (Vocals)

REVIEW

Widely (and deservedly) regarded as the album that confirmed Daevid Allen's return to action at the end of his somewhat disheveled 1980s, Australia Aquaria is also the record that reaffirmed his own faith in the sounds and textures that made his earliest Gong work so fabulous. Rich in melody and sentiment (the gentle "She" is all but a universal love song) and drenched in moods that swing from ethereal to majestic, the album does not put one foot wrong -- a claim that Allen supporters had not truly been able to make since midway through the Planet Gong trilogy. Song lengths are especially impressive, generally ranging between seven and 14 minutes (the epic title track), but never outstaying their welcome. In fact, the only disappointment is that the album slipped past so unnoticed when it was first released. © Dave Thompson, All Music Guide

SHORT BIO

Daevid Allen, born 1938 in Melbourne, Australia, was one of the founders of the British progressive rock band the Soft Machine in 1966. After recording just one album with the group, he became the founder/leader of Gong, which he left in 1973 to begin a solo career (though his first solo album, Banana Moon, was released in 1971 while he was still in the group). Allen explored his quirky, folky take on rock throughout the '70s and '80s on albums like 1976's Good Morning and 1983's Alien in New York. His solo work also included collaborations with underground rock impresario Kramer like 1993's Who's Afraid? and 1996's Hit Men, which was released on Kramer's Shimmy Disc label. Allen returned in 1999 with Money Doesn't Make It, followed a year later by Stroking the Tail of the Bird. Nectans Glen also followed in 2000. In 2003 Allen formed a new version of Gong with members of the Japanese collective known as Acid Mothers Temple, as well as playing and releasing material with his California-based band University of Errors. He continues to release numerous live sets and one-off collaborations in limited editions on various independent labels under his own and various group names. A best-of, Man From Gong, which only scratches the surface of his lengthy discography, appeared from Snapper Music in 2006. © William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide