Sounds to remember the forgotten - music for the journey...

The key to the riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside the enigma at the heart of Gong? Maybe, perhaps - all I know is that if I could choose but one volume of the many Gong and related releases we have heard, witnessed and that have been part of our lives over the past 40 years it would be this one, 'The Seven Drones'. Over many years they have demonstrated to me again and again their ability to carry me further, higher and deeper, and to experience more than any other release. They seem to carry within them the vibration to alter the very matter and space around and within you.

The Drones are the most minimalistic and yet at the same time the most intricate of daevid's music - almost a distillation of daevid's years of experimentation into the nature of sound. They are created with layers of glissando guitar and synth which combine to form the subtly fluctuating basic note of the drone, one for each Chakra or energy centre of the body following the classical Indian tradition. On top of this root drone are more layers of sound, chosen to be appropriate for the qualities of each Chakra. These are created in a variety of ways, more gliss guitar and synth, didgeridoo, space whisper, chimes, flute, and even in one or two places some words. These overlayers seemlessly merge in and out of the root drone in a harmonious way to complete the drone.

The Drones came into being in the early 1980's, although the idea had been around much, much longer. Back then Daevid had just about had it with being part of the music business, and the seemingly uneven struggle trying to integrate a spiritual path with popular music. At that time and living full-time in Australia he abandoned music altogether and immersed himself in 7 years of 'Mystery School' training. This consisted of many things including extensive training as a councillor and re-birther, meditational retreats and the development of the 'Self-Initiation Workshops'. However he had discovered too much, both in his time in Gong and within his wider musical life, for the urge to investigate the use of sound within spiritual practises to remain submerged for long. So he decided to go back to basics and investigate the pure essence of individual musical notes and it is this study which led to the birth of the Drones.

This CD has carefully shortened versions of the 7 major Drones, the full length versions of which are 45 minutes and more, and the longer 'Heartspace Meditation' piece, based on the F Heart Drone. It has been designed to be used in conjunction with meditational practise or other personal growth therapies, although you can gain much benefit by also having it just playing in the background while you proceed about your work or daily life. This issue has been sensitivity re-mastered from the original recordings and comes housed in a new triple-fold didgi-pak artwork design by Peter Hartl, designer of 'Dreamin' a Dream', 'You Re-Mixed' and others. And Daevid has written new detailed liner notes for the 12 page booklet.

If there is the desire we would like release all the full-length versions of the Drones, one by one. So the plan has been hatched that subscribers to this pre-order will be offered the opportunity to buy the much longer versions at a special discounted price as and when they become available. We will keep a record of those of you who pre-order this CD and e-mail that list when each full-length Drone has been prepared for release. I would like to imagine that it will build up to a series of card-sleeved CD wallets to accompany this didgi-pak CD and perhaps a slip case in which to house them all.

Blimey all that's a bit serious. How about just turn on CD, sit, close eyes, breath in - breath out, relax/melt/expand/merge/gliss/bliss/glid/lift the lid - pop! You might have to practise a bit.