Description
Gong – The Universe Also Collapses – 180 Gram Vinyl Record
“The Universe Also Collapses” is a studio album by Gong, released on May 10, 2019, via Kscope Records. It is the fifteenth studio album under the Gong name and the second to be recorded after the passing of the band’s iconic founder, Daevid Allen, in 2015. Far from being a tribute or a nostalgic rehash, the album is a bold and progressive statement—a continuation of Allen’s legacy that pushes the Gong ethos into new cosmic territory.
The album was recorded by the current incarnation of Gong, featuring Kavus Torabi (lead vocals, guitars), Fabio Golfetti (guitar), Dave Sturt (bass), Cheb Nettles (drums), and Ian East (saxophone, woodwinds). These musicians were handpicked and blessed by Allen himself before his death, giving them both the spiritual and musical go-ahead to continue the band’s ever-evolving mythology. The Universe Also Collapses is a reflection of that mandate—a fusion of psychedelia, space rock, jazz fusion, and progressive rock, held together by a metaphysical thread of cosmic consciousness and philosophical inquiry.
The album is made up of four extended tracks, each with multiple movements, offering an immersive, layered listening experience:
“Forever Reoccurring” – Clocking in at nearly 20 minutes, this epic opener is a psychedelic suite that feels like a spiritual journey. The track begins with meditative textures and chant-like vocals before exploding into waves of kaleidoscopic guitar riffs, syncopated grooves, and hypnotic sax lines. The lyrics explore cyclical existence, rebirth, and cosmic time—a recurring theme in Gong’s lore.
“If Never I’m And Ever You” – A more concise (but still expansive) track, it combines enigmatic lyrics with swirling instrumentation, marrying mathy rhythms with soaring, cosmic melodies. It bridges the band’s spacey aesthetic with post-punk urgency, showing Gong’s capacity to remain both timeless and of-the-moment.
“My Sawtooth Wake” – This 13-minute voyage is driven by a churning rhythm section and angular guitars, alternating between meditative, trance-like passages and explosive peaks. It feels like a spiritual sequel to classic Gong jams, but updated with a sharper, more experimental edge.
“The Elemental” – A haunting and more ambient closer that serves as a cosmic exhale. The piece folds together field recordings, gentle saxophone, and atmospheric layers in a slow-burning resolution that dissolves the album back into stardust.
True to Gong tradition, The Universe Also Collapses is steeped in existential mysticism, playful absurdity, and cosmic metaphors. The lyrics are cryptic, poetic, and often spiritually charged, touching on themes of impermanence, transformation, ego dissolution, and unity—all long-standing tenets of Gong’s musical mythos.
Yet, despite the heavy philosophical undercurrent, the album never loses its sense of playfulness and wonder. This isn’t a dirge or a eulogy—it’s a celebration of the ongoing cosmic dance, carried forward by a band that understands that change is not just inevitable but essential.
The dual guitars of Torabi and Golfetti create interweaving sonic tapestries, while Ian East’s sax and woodwinds inject bursts of jazzy unpredictability. Dave Sturt’s fluid bass anchors the chaos with both funk and fretless grace, and Cheb Nettles’ drumming moves effortlessly from precise polyrhythms to thunderous crescendos.
Critics and longtime fans responded to The Universe Also Collapses with enthusiastic acclaim, noting that the current lineup had not only preserved the spirit of Gong but infused it with fresh vitality. Rather than treating Daevid Allen’s passing as a creative endpoint, the band approached it as a transformation—a classic Gong move in itself. The album was praised for its ambition, cohesion, and fearless exploration, and it’s now regarded as a modern high point in Gong’s vast, multi-dimensional catalog.
The Universe Also Collapses is a bold continuation of Gong’s sonic odyssey—a record that honors the past while charting new paths through the unknown. It’s a psychedelic transmission for a new age, reminding listeners that the universe is always collapsing and rebirthing, and Gong will always be there to soundtrack the ride.
Brand new, never played and still in the factory plastic
Track Listing
Forever Reoccurring
If Never I’m And Ever You
My Sawtooth Wake
The Elemental
