The Flying Teapot (Radio Gnome Invisible, Pt. 1) [Import]

Track Listings

1. Radio Gnome Invisible

2. Flying Teapot

3. Pot Head Pixies

4. Octave Doctors and the Crystal Machine

5. Zero the Hero and the Witch's Spell

6. Witch's Song: I Am Your Pussy

The Flying Teapot (Radio Gnome Invisible, Pt. 1),Gong,Charly UK,Avant-Garde,British Psychedelia,Canterbury Scene,Electronic,Experimental Rock,Pop,Prog-Rock/Art Rock,Psychedelic,Rock,Space Rock

Tracks:

Radio Gnome Invisible
Flying Teapot
Pot Head Pixies
Octave Doctors and the Crystal Machine
Zero the Hero and the Witch's Spell
Witch's Song: I Am Your Pussy

Album Description

1973's Flying Teapot is a Gong milestone. It's the first installment in their legendary "Radio Gnome Trilogy" and a transitional point between the underground psychedelia of Camembert Electrique and the artier, more ethereal sound they later developed. Teapot is more visceral, less cerebral than its successors, and the catchy ensemble riffs of Camembert are still present. The arrival of virtuoso guitarist Steve Hillage and synth wizard Tim Blake represented a great leap forward, though. Blake concentrated exclusively on ambient electronic effects and soundscapes a la early Hawkind, leaving harmonic development to the other band members. Hillage's fleet-fingered jazz-rock solos and arsenal of effects upped the musicianship a notch and reinforced the spacy jazz elements already in place. Whether you're able to follow the willfully confusing storyline or not, the elaborate mythological world created by Daevid Allen is loads of fun when wrapped around music as inspired as this psychedelic art-jazz-space rock amalgam. The key players are a group of gnomes from another planet who arrive in a flying teapot (stoner imagery plays heavily in hippie Allen's vision) to save the world (or something). Actually, some surprisingly intellectual/philosophical messages were contained in the trilogy, leavened heartily by the irrepressible Allen's healthy sense of humor. Charly. 2004.

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Edition of the 1973 Release from Group Led by Daevid Allen, the First Part of What was to Become Known as their "Radio Gnome Invisible Trilogy". The Album is an Avant Garde Collection of Sound Effects, Jazzy Improvisation and Comic Vocals, all Displaying the Group's Sense of Humour and Wacky Approach to their Music. "The Pot Head Pixies" and "The Witch's Spell" Are Perfect Examples of their Unique Musical Style.

Customer Reviews:

Just a collection novelty tunes (and poor ones at that).......2006-06-16

I've read the praise- space jazz, counter culture masterpiece, quirky absurdist humour. Sounds interesting on paper but this album is in reality nothing more than a collection of novelty tunes interspersed with pointless sound effects and lame instrumental "noodling". "Neil" from the British comedy series The Young Ones released an album of 60s and 70s hippy tunes called "Neils Heavy Concept Album" which was a spoof. You may have heard the song Hole In My Shoe from that album. Imagine an album containing much worse versions of that and that prety much sums up Flying Teapot by Gong. I'm pretty open minded about music and enjoy most forms, but this remains one of the worst albums I've ever had the misfortune to purchase.

I admit I did laugh out loud a few times at just how pathetic this album could get, but even such lowbrow humour moments aren't enough to make me give this anything other than 1 star.

Spinal Tap was a spoof of heavy metal bands. Sounds like most hippy bands of the early 70s didn't actualy require anyone to parody them.

An excellent album that was apparently remastered in a back alley .......2006-05-13

Gong's first release for Virgin Records was released in 1973 and marks Pt. I of Daevid Allen's masterwork, the Radio Gnome Invisible trilogy. The other albums in the trilogy include Pt. II Angels Egg (1973), and my personal favorite, Pt. III You (1974). Sadly, Daevid Allen left Gong after the You album, taking his hilarious and seemingly magical world of protagonist Zero the Hero, Pot head pixies, octave doctors, crystal machines, and the like with him.

The six tracks on this great album range in length from 1'51" to 11'52" and feature an excellent blend of synth heavy space rock, space whispers, really silly (and fun) absurdist humor, prog rock rave-ups, jazz rock, and all around excellent individual and ensemble playing. Speaking of which, although this lineup is not the classic Gong lineup featured on Angels Egg and You, all of the band members are excellent and a few of the elements that made those later albums incredible are in place. Specifically, newly acquired guitarist extraordinaire Steve Hillage and synthesizer player Tim Blake had signed on. In fact, Tim Blake's spacey VCS3 and mini moog synthesizer work really makes this album work for me and he is highlighted on the short synth piece The Octave Doctors and the Crystal Machine. In addition to bandleader Daevid Allen (guitars, vocals) and space whisperer/Welsh poet Gilli Smyth, former Magma bassist Fancis Moze, Didier Maherlbe (saxophone, flute), and excellent drummer Laurie Allen played on this album.

OK, now for the bad stuff. Although the music on this album is incredible, the 2005 remastering effort by Charly is simply atrocious and it appears that Flying Teapot may have in fact been remastered in a back alley. The cover art is "pixelly" and grainy and it appears that the cover art may have been simply scanned from "Joe's copy" and then edited by someone who did not have a clue as to what they were doing. Even the inner photos appear to have been scanned and are also grainy and "pixelly". In fact, one of the images appears to have been borrowed from the remastered version of Angel's Egg issued by EMI. The sound quality is also terrible, and has all of the texture and dynamic range you might expect from a beat up cassette tape (made in 1973) being played on a cheap, portable tape recorder at a distance of 300 meters. Specifically, the overall sound is low and muffled, and there are points where there is severe distortion.

I will not however, let the clowns over at Charly ruin this fantastic album for me and I will still give this album a five star rating in spite of it all. For those of you that are not as forgiving and cannot overlook these problems, I would strongly urge you to look around and track down another version.

All in all, this album is highly recommended along with Camembert Electrique (1971), Angel's Egg (1973), and You (1974). Just avoid any of the lousy versions issued by Charly.

ideas not fully formed.......2005-09-24

to my dissapointment, not everything by the original daevid allen era gong is indispensable. this is radio gnome invisible pt. 1 with the finest space rock lineup anyone could hope for but the final result of this album comes of sounding like a tentative rehearsal where in many places allen scats some of the songs' improvisations and their arrangement lacks coherence and development. instrumentation is limited to supporting the vocals and chants and rarely gets the opportunity to expound any ideas or feel each other out. in the end, daevid allen displays some infectious song writing ability but it appears that the new members just weren't ready to record yet. this is steve hillage's first appearance for gong but you wouldn't know it as his guitar is barely noticeable. things change remarkably for the next albums 'angels egg' and 'you' which are two of the greatest psychedelic albums ever recorded.

The Formal Start of the Tea Ceremony - Hymns Disguised as Whimsy.......2005-08-14

This is the start of the "Radio Gnome Trilogy" in which Daevid Allen and Gong lay out the full mythology of the Planet Gong and the Pothead Pixies. Calling this "jazz-rock" is completely misleading though it certainly has elements of both. It is the first fully formed expression of the unique sound developed by Gong and used by Daevid and the band to convey profound thoughts in a very silly and beautiful manner. Profoundly psychedelic, this is music intended to be listened to in an altered state, and it is designed to fit together with the following two parts of the trilogy ("Angel's Egg" and "You"...both equally essential). Buy all three albums - program them into a CD changer - prepare your head and don headphones - then get ready for a journey you will never regret. This IS "Lafta Yoga" - Electric Dharma. Hare hare London Bus!!!"

Daevid Allen is the George Clinton of Jazz Rock part 1.......2004-11-26

Strong statement to start a review I know, but here are the reasons. Both Daevid and George held large groups of disparate and talented musicians together for several years, gave them alternative names, and got them to buy into their own unique vision of the world. Both visions included fictitous characters acting out complex plots using a unique language and imagery. Both created music that broke down barriers between established musical forms and molded the pieces into something new and undefinable. Both are very funny men (in more ways than one you could say).

Flying Teapot is part one of the Radio Gnome trilogy of albums (Angel's Egg and You are the others).This is the album that introduces us to Zero the Hero and the Pothead Pixies and includes stories of inner/outer space travel in flying teapots and encounters with wicked witches. With only a handful of very long tracks you need to sit down and get involved for the first couple of runs through, but after a while Steve Hillage's guitar and Blomdido Bad de Grasse's sax will hook you into the hypnotic mantras of "Zero the Hero", "The Pothead Pixies" and "Flying Teapot". After that all resistance will be futile and you'll find yourself chanting "I am, you are, we are crazy" along with everyone else. There are only a couple of weaknesses with the whole thing, but of the trilogy, this is the most straight ahead and rock based. Start here and work through Angel's Egg in to You. It could change the way you look at, well, everything really.

The Flying Teapot (Radio Gnome Invisible, Pt. 1)

Average customer rating:

The Flying Teapot (Radio Gnome Invisible, Pt. 1)
Gong
Manufacturer: Jvc Japan
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Camembert Electrique
Angel's Egg (Radio Gnome Invisible, Pt. 2)
You

ASIN: B000BX4D0E
Release Date: 2006-01-23

Tracks:

Radio Gnome Invisible
Flying Teapot
Pot Head Pixies
Octave Doctors and the Crystal Machine
Zero the Hero and the Witch's Spell
Witch's Song: I Am Your Pussy

Album Description

Limited edition high definition Japanese pressing, comes housed in a miniature LP sleeve. Victor. 2006.

Album Details

Special 24bit K2 Japanese Limited Edition Issue of the Album Classic in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork.

Average customer rating:

Flying Teapot
Gong
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000A2PW4C
Release Date: 2002-01-18

Album Description

Full title, 'The Flying Teapot (Radio Gnome Invisible, Pt. 1)'. French reissue of the progressive rock act's 1973 album. Digipak. Spalax.

Average customer rating:

Gong - 'The Flying Teapot' (JVC) 2 1/2 stars
A FANTASTIC PIECE
The centerpiece of Canterbury and progressive rock ?
Take a trip in the Teapot...

The Flying Teapot (Radio Gnome Invisible, Pt. 1)
Gong
Manufacturer: Jvc Japan
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000056C6L
Release Date: 2001-01-16

Tracks:

Radio Gnome Invisible
Flying Teapot
Pot Head Pixies
Octave Doctors and the Crystal Machine
Zero the Hero and the Witch's Spell
Witch's Song: I Am Your Pussy

Album Description

Japanese reissue of the progressive rock act's 1973 album. Digitally remastered using 20 bit K2 Super Coding. Packaged in a miniature gatefold LP sleeve. 2000 release.

Album Details

The Japanese version features a limited LP sleeve style cover. 20 bit digitally remastered.

Customer Reviews:

Gong - 'The Flying Teapot' (JVC) 2 1/2 stars.......2005-05-23

Originally released in 1973,looks to be Gong's fifth lp that was produced by Giorgio Gomelsky(Yardbirds,Brian Auger).Call me ignorant if you wish,but for some reason(s)I've just never been able to get THAT much into this classic Gong catalog title.I do like the other two lp's they put out in the same two year period,'Angel Egg' and 'You' very much so.This CD reissue's title 12-minute cut,"Flying Teapot" and "Zero The Hero And The Witch's Spell" are probably the best tracks here.So-so '70's cosmic rock.Nice reissue job on this Japanese label.Memorable cover.

A FANTASTIC PIECE.......2002-05-18

It's prog, it's psych, it's a bit of jazz, and Daevid's vocals are just fine!! The last two tracks are weirdly sublime and even scary, with Gilli's space whispers and the in-your-face lyrics she gets to utter. The sticker shock is an indicator that people have scarfed this album up since it came out -- thus driving up the price. Well? It's a shame, but if you don't get this I doubt they'll reissue again, or print another batch.

The centerpiece of Canterbury and progressive rock ?.......2002-03-12

Thus begins that experience known as Gong. Perhaps Radio Gnome Invisible is the mohter of all concept albums. Essentially these pothead pixies come to earth in a flying teapot to spread love. There are also these Octive Doctors who spread good feeling so such. Much has been said about this band, and whether it is justified is a matter of your personal judgment. This album did not come across very strongly to me at first, and it still doesn't. Daevid Allen (one-time member of the Soft Machine before their first album was ever released) just doesn't have that extensive of a vocal range. His style is very comparable to Richard Sinclair of Caravan. Gilli Smyth's voice, however, isn't. Her willow-wisp style delivery is one of the winning points of Flying Teapot-if anything her presence (which, if you like, you should check her out on The Owl and the Tree album-even more smokey and surreal!) on this album inspired the others to rise above the helium mentality that seems to pervade throughout. This is not to say that the album doesn't have its moments. "Witch's Song" is great. "The Octave Doctors" is downright futuristic and haunting, albeit brief. And of the course the title song, should go down in legend. It's relentless and driving; if only Gong had done more of this kind of fushion-progressive rock and less of the, well . . . "Pothead Pixies". Ah, but then where would be that Canterburian whimsy? By the time of the You album, however, Gong seemed to have gotten their instramental game down. Vocals for the most part have been cast to the wind and emphasis is more on tight playing. If there is an international equivalent to Gong and the maniacal (but often brilliant) shifts in rhythm and tempo, it would be in Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention.

Take a trip in the Teapot..........2001-01-17

The sometimes maligned first part of the Radio Gnome Invisible Trilogy, `Flying Teapot', from 1973, is the perfect (and suitably so) introduction to Gong (formed in 1969 by Daevid Allen and his wife Gilli Smyth, performing and recording in one iteration or another (or another, etc.) throughout the seventies until this very day): a mythology involving the the denizens of the Planet Gong, Pothead Pixies, who travel about in Flying Teapots spreading joy throughout the universe (or something along those lines) with Octave Doctors who impart wisdom to the initiated through the use of The Crystal Machine...all presented in a mind blowing array of sounds and tone colors that will leave you mesmerized and lyrics that will leave you humming for...well, a long time.

Absolutlely a blast of an album. The limited reissue sound is incredible (the best that I have heard in CD format), and the packaging is worth the price of admission, reproducing the original gatefold album liner notes and artwork by Daevid Allen.

Tracks:

Radio Gnome Invisible
Flying Teapot
Pot Head Pixies
Octave Doctors and the Crystal Machine
Zero the Hero and the Witch's Spell
Witch's Song: I Am Your Pussy

Customer Reviews:

Pot headed pixies? Flying teapots... what's that about then.......2000-02-09

This alboum is one of the best thing ever if you are a gong fan. if not then take a chance to listen to some of the origional gong, like angle egg or Flying teapot. the music is all very weird but calm, and varying. they sing about the planet gang and how the pot headed pixies who inhabit this strange planet, they fly into space using strange flying tea pots, there is much more to the gong story, so if you are interested, then check out the gong home page! :-)

Average customer rating:

Pot headed pixies? Flying teapots... what's that about then

Flying Teapot

Manufacturer: Charly (UK)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

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Customer Reviews:

Pot headed pixies? Flying teapots... what's that about then.......2000-02-09

Average customer rating:

A soundtrack for the end of the world.

The Flying Teapot (Radio Gnome Invisible, Pt. 1)
Gong
Manufacturer: Inpossible
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Psychedelic Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005JHHF
Release Date: 2002-07-30

Tracks:

Radio Gnome Invisible
Flying Teapot
Pot Head Pixies
Octave Doctors and the Crystal Machine
Zero the Hero and the Witch's Spell
Witch's Song: I Am Your Pussy

Album Description

French avant-garde/free jazz unit (with no actual member named Art Zoyd). 16 tracks from an orchestra of electric guitars and bass, saxophones, trumpets, trombones, tuba, drums, percussion and samplers. 2001.

Customer Reviews:

A soundtrack for the end of the world........2002-06-12

On this album, Gegard Hourbette, Patricia Dallio and about 50 sessional musicans (without Thierry). They replay Haxan music (exactly "Glissements progressifs du plaisir" track), which was written by Hourbette.
uBIQUe consists in two parts, and both are written by Hourbette.
If you love Haxan album, this shall be good album for you.
This is live recording, record quality is on high level.