Gnosis (album)
Encyclopedia
Gnosis is the fourth album of the British progressive rock
band, Gnidrolog
. The album's title, Gnosis
, means divine or spiritual knowledge and understanding. It is their third studio album and the first to be recorded in 27 years. The album was mostly recorded at Select Sound Studios, Cairns, Australia, where it was engineered and produced by Nigel Pegrum
. "Repent Harlequin", "Two Helens" and the title track were all recorded at Music City Studios, London, engineered by Joe Suarez and produced by Nessa Glen, in courtesy of Sarastro Music. The album was mostly published by Kempyre Music, except "Two Helens", which was published by Sarastro Music. Chris Copping
of Procol Harum
played his Hammond B3 Organ for a couple of tracks, which were recorded in Woodstock Studios
, Melbourne and engineered by Tim Dudfield. Post production is credited to David J Burrows and Stewart Goldring. The album was mastered by David J Burrows at Disques rue Bis. The album is noted to be eclectic not only for its transcontinental recording but also for the use of traditional instruments such as the Australian aboriginal, didgeridoo
s. The album marks the band's comeback which has also prompted the release of the Live 1972
album. The album was essentially a cooperation between the 1970s old Gnidrolog members to release the Goldring brothers' original material with the addition of Rick Kemp
of Steeleye Span
and Nessa Glen.
With
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band, Gnidrolog
Gnidrolog
Gnidrolog was a British progressive rock band, with a sound that was compared to better known bands such as Van der Graaf Generator, Jethro Tull and Gentle Giant.-History:...
. The album's title, Gnosis
Gnosis
Gnosis is the common Greek noun for knowledge . In the context of the English language gnosis generally refers to the word's meaning within the spheres of Christian mysticism, Mystery religions and Gnosticism where it signifies 'spiritual knowledge' in the sense of mystical enlightenment.-Related...
, means divine or spiritual knowledge and understanding. It is their third studio album and the first to be recorded in 27 years. The album was mostly recorded at Select Sound Studios, Cairns, Australia, where it was engineered and produced by Nigel Pegrum
Nigel Pegrum
Nigel Pegrum was a drummer with The Small Faces and Steeleye Span before becoming a producer.- Biography :Nigel Pegrum played drums with an early line-up of The Small Faces, then played drums with Lee Grant And The Capitols before joining Spice, who subsequently changed their name to Uriah Heep...
. "Repent Harlequin", "Two Helens" and the title track were all recorded at Music City Studios, London, engineered by Joe Suarez and produced by Nessa Glen, in courtesy of Sarastro Music. The album was mostly published by Kempyre Music, except "Two Helens", which was published by Sarastro Music. Chris Copping
Chris Copping
Chris Copping is a musician and singer-songwriter who was a member of Procol Harum in the 1970s, and has also composed for TV and film. He predominantly plays organ, piano and bass guitar....
of Procol Harum
Procol Harum
Procol Harum are a British rock band, formed in 1967, which contributed to the development of progressive rock, and by extension, symphonic rock. Their best-known recording is their 1967 single "A Whiter Shade of Pale"...
played his Hammond B3 Organ for a couple of tracks, which were recorded in Woodstock Studios
Woodstock Studios
Woodstock Studios is a recording facility owned by Australian musician, Joe Camilleri, leader of Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons and The Black Sorrows, and is located in East St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia. It has been used by Australian artists: Augie March, John Butler Trio, The Cat Empire and Paul Kelly....
, Melbourne and engineered by Tim Dudfield. Post production is credited to David J Burrows and Stewart Goldring. The album was mastered by David J Burrows at Disques rue Bis. The album is noted to be eclectic not only for its transcontinental recording but also for the use of traditional instruments such as the Australian aboriginal, didgeridoo
Didgeridoo
The didgeridoo is a wind instrument developed by Indigenous Australians of northern Australia around 1,500 years ago and still in widespread usage today both in Australia and around the world. It is sometimes described as a natural wooden trumpet or "drone pipe"...
s. The album marks the band's comeback which has also prompted the release of the Live 1972
Gnidrolog Live 1972
Live 1972 is the third album of the British progressive rock band, Gnidrolog. The album was recorded live in Birmingham on July 10, 1972, and released in 1999 to be the band's only live album. The album's bonus track was recorded live in Aylesbury on July 8, 1972...
album. The album was essentially a cooperation between the 1970s old Gnidrolog members to release the Goldring brothers' original material with the addition of Rick Kemp
Rick Kemp
Rick Kemp is an English bass player, songwriter, vocalist and record producer, best known for his work with the pioneering electric folk band, Steeleye Span.-Projects:...
of Steeleye Span
Steeleye Span
Steeleye Span are an English folk-rock band, formed in 1969 and remaining active today. Along with Fairport Convention they are amongst the best known acts of the British folk revival, and were among the most commercially successful, thanks to their hit singles "Gaudete" and "All Around My Hat"....
and Nessa Glen.
Album cover
The album cover contains a pyramid with the title in it and in its bottom right hand corner, appear two words, "prospice" and "respice".Track listing
- "Reach For Tomorrow" (Colin Goldring) - 5:14
- "Reverend Katz" (Colin Goldring) - 6:02
- "Fall To Ground" (Colin and Stewart Goldring) - 4:53
- "Woolunga" (Stewart Goldring) - 4:23
- or "Safe Haven"
- "Wonder Wonder" (Colin Goldring) - 4:42
- "Deventer" (Stewart Goldring) - 4:53
- "Bells Of Prozac" (Colin Goldring) - 6:27
- "Kings Of Rock" (Colin Golring) - 6:50
- "Gnosis" (Colin Goldring) - 6:47
- "Crazy, Crazy" (Colin Goldring) - 4:31
- "Going To France" (Colin Goldring) - 4:42
- "The City Sleeps" (Stewart Goldring) - 4:42
- "Two Helens" (Colin Goldring) - 3:20
- "Repent Harlequin" (Stewart Goldring - 6:30
Personnel
- Colin Goldring - vocals, electric and acoustic guitar, recorders, harmonica, backing vocals
- Stewart Goldring - electric and classical guitars, backing vocals
- Rick KempRick KempRick Kemp is an English bass player, songwriter, vocalist and record producer, best known for his work with the pioneering electric folk band, Steeleye Span.-Projects:...
- bass guitar, backing vocals - Nigel PegrumNigel PegrumNigel Pegrum was a drummer with The Small Faces and Steeleye Span before becoming a producer.- Biography :Nigel Pegrum played drums with an early line-up of The Small Faces, then played drums with Lee Grant And The Capitols before joining Spice, who subsequently changed their name to Uriah Heep...
- drums, percussion, flutes - Nessa Glen - Hammond organHammond organThe Hammond organ is an electric organ invented by Laurens Hammond in 1934 and manufactured by the Hammond Organ Company. While the Hammond organ was originally sold to churches as a lower-cost alternative to the wind-driven pipe organ, in the 1960s and 1970s it became a standard keyboard...
, bowed glass samples, kalimba, keyboards, harpsichordHarpsichordA harpsichord is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when a key is pressed.In the narrow sense, "harpsichord" designates only the large wing-shaped instruments in which the strings are perpendicular to the keyboard...
, keyboard sitar
With
- David Hudson - didgeridoos on "Woolunga" ("Safe Haven")
- Ash DarganAsh DarganAsh Dargan is an indigenous Australian didgeridoo player. He is a member of the Larrakia people but did not find out about his aboriginality until he was 21. He teaches and performs all over the world...
- didgeridoos on "Bells of Prozac" - Chris CoppingChris CoppingChris Copping is a musician and singer-songwriter who was a member of Procol Harum in the 1970s, and has also composed for TV and film. He predominantly plays organ, piano and bass guitar....
- Hammond B3 organ on "Kings of Rock" and "Going to France"