DAEVID ALLEN'S UNIVERSITY OF
ERRORS
-Money Doesn't Make It (inner SPACE 7707)
Daevid is the ever-prolific former & forever leader
of GONG - Canterbury space/psych/rock/jazz giants who
continue to reinvent themselves 30 years after their
original formation. After the demise of the original Gong
in the mid 70's, Daevid came to our shores for his first
appearance in November of '78 at the Zu Mainfestival and
formed New York Gong who included future members of
Material, Kramer & Gary Windo. Daevid has continued
to collaborate with select domestic musicians who can
comprehend his kaleidoscopic vision. Just a few months
back KFW released a space/rockin' gem by prog/psych
supergroup Brainville (w/ Kramer, Hugh Hopper & Pip
Pyle), and now here is Daevid backed by members of Bay
area space/rock unit Mushroom, whose revolving door
membership oftenchanges gig to gig.
On this cool release, they are called University of
Errors, perhaps referring to the pataphysical philosphy
of throwing in the banana to make fun of those who take
themselves too serious. The UoE consist of a trio with
Josh Pollock on lewd guitar & Michael Clare on bass
(both of whom have been employed at the great Amoeba
Records in Berkeley) and drummer Pat Thomas (once of
obscure rock wonder Absolute Grey). They played last week
at the Knit's Old Office and we all had a blast! All the
magic ingredients are in place for this timeless
psychedelic journey - Daevid's cosmic drone glissando
guitar playing learned from his Atlantis ancestors in an
acid dream and his calm, grinning, all-knowing - singing
& storytelling, ancient to modern philosophy and
jokes. Josh's great atmospheric, slow burn lead/lewd
guitar balances Daevid's mesmerizing presence and my pal
Michael Clare pulls off that Hugh Hopper-like hypnotic
and churning el. bass throb. Michael's production is also
well done- with shimmering el. guitars and Daevid's
infinite voices. On "Mullumbimby Mother" Daevid
does a raga-rock groove and tongue-twisting Indian-like
vocals, another highlight. Some of the more mutant guitar
recalls Chrome on qualudes, another San Francisco treat
of yesteryear. The title track "Money Doesn't Make
It" is a rather Marxist rocker that is sadly true,
but ironic considering that this spirited quartet wailed
in the packed but ultra small Old Office space for the
(money fueled) CMJ convention. Daevid asks you all to
"Burn Your Money" over & over &
over,like a broken record, but before you do that, to get
this great orgasmic delight - send us only $12.
Bruce Gallanter
Downtown Music Gallery
11 E. 5th St. N.Y., N.Y. 10003
Phone: (212) 473-0043
Email: dmg@panix.com
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