Hansford rowE
GONG EXPRESSO: DECADENCE
This near re-iteration of PM Gong is the first such grouping since the passing of influential drummer Pierre Moerlen in 2005. PM Gong was a major branch of the massive Gong tree. In the mid 1970's Pierre Moerlen separated from Daevid Allen, marking an end to the Flying Teapot period and a powerful jazz/rock unit was formed and signed to Virgin Records. Pierre's brother Benoit Moerlen, Hansford Rowe, Francois Causse and Allan Holdsworth were core members.
The music of Decadence is uncluttered and largely unhurried, and it's blessed with a rich connectivity that fizzes between the gifted players. At the heart of this album is a simple, precision-driven transparency, a feeling that the group are entirely focused on pursuing the clarity within its compositions. Chilled but far from lethargic, a special, intimate atmosphere pervades this recording, and the expressiveness found within this material is particularly rewarding.
Released January 1, 2017
Hansford Rowe: Bass
Benoit Moerlen: Vibes. Marimba
Francois Causse: Drums, Percussion
Julien Sandiford: Guitar
hansford rowe: HR3
An instrumental power trio that will singe your soul.
Julien Sandiford - guitar
Hansford Rowe - bass
Max Lazich - drums
A wounded road warrior meets two young bucks. Together they confront the beast. You can’t create without destroying. That doesn’t mean scorched earth is HR3’s method. They kill you softly.
Bassist Hansford Rowe has scorched with quite a variety of characters along the rocky road since his first work with PM’s Gong; Allan Holdsworth, Biréli Lagrène, Mike Oldfield, John Martyn, microtonal maestros Jon Catler and David Fiuczynski, David Torn, Gary Husband etc. It has all cleared a path to the fountain of youth: two prodigious young musicians named Max Lazich and Julien Sandiford. HR3 was recorded and co-produced, “live in the studio”, to audiophile standards by Denis Savage (Celine Dion).
It couldn’t be predicted but you know it is right. Just like their music.
