Downwind (album)

Downwind
File:PMGongDownwind.jpg
Studio album by Pierre Moerlen's Gong
Released	February 9, 1979
Recorded	June–September, 1978
Genre	Jazz Fusion, Progressive rock
Length	40:06
Label	Arista
Producer	Nick Bradford
Pierre Moerlen's Gong chronology
Expresso II (1978)Expresso II1978 Downwind (1979) Time Is the Key (1979)Time Is the Key1979

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Downwind is an album by Pierre Moerlen's Gong, issued in February, 1979 (see 1979 in music).

Like the other Pierre Moerlen's Gong albums, Downwind is predominantly jazz fusion and has little to do with the psychedelic space rock of Daevid Allen's Gong, even though the bands share a common history. It marks a slight departure from the formula of Pierre Moerlen's Gong's previous records Gazeuse! and Expresso II, towards conventional pop/rock.

"Aeroplane" and "What You Know" are short-form pop songs featuring lead vocals by Moerlen, the first time vocals appeared on a Gong record since 1975. Keyboards, some of which are provided by Steve Winwood, augment or even replace mallet percussion on a few tracks. Mike Oldfield contributes guitar on the title track.

Track listing

No.	Title	Music	Length
1.	"Aeroplane"	Moerlen, O'Lochlain	2:42
2.	"Crosscurrents"	Moerlen	6:13
3.	"Downwind"	Moerlen	12:34
4.	"Jin-Go-Lo-Ba"	Olatunji	3:27
5.	"What You Know"	Moerlen, O'Lochlain	3:44
6.	"Emotions"	Moerlen	4:46
7.	"Xtasea"	Moerlen	6:40

Personnel

Gong

• Pierre Moerlen - drums, vibraphone, marimba, timpani, keyboards, vocals
• Hansford Rowe - bass
• Ross Record - guitar, vocals
• Benoît Moerlen - vibraphone and laughter
• François Causse - percussion

Additional personnel

• Didier Lockwood - violin (2,6,7)
• Didier Malherbe - saxophone (3)
• Mike Oldfield - guitar, solina strings, bass, Irish drum (3)
• Steve Winwood - Hohner clavinet, Moog, Tom solo (3)
• Terry Oldfield - flute (3)
• Mick Taylor - guitar (5)