Gilgamesh

Gilgamesh took its name from a legendary Sumerian king, a poetic figure from early Mesopotamian literature. I’m not sure how such heroic imagery translates to a children’s board game, but a rock and roll parody of Chutes and Ladders became the front cover for this UK-based quartet’s self-titled debut. First released in 1975 on Caroline Records, a subsidiary of Virgin, Gilgamesh is an intricate collection of progressive jazz fusion. The group’s instrumental passages are succeeded in length only by its song titles, which include “One End More/Phil’s Little Dance-For Phil Miller’s Trousers/Worlds of Zin,” “Island of Rhodes/Paper Boat for Doris/As if Your Eyes Were Open” and “We Are All/Someone Else’s Food/Jamo and Other Boating Disasters (From the Holiday of the Same Name).” Whew. Like many of the era’s complicated jazz-related projects, the musicianship on Gilgamesh is impressive. Alan Gowen’s keyboard work highlights the proceedings, although Phil Lee’s contributions on guitar are just as revelatory. “For Absent Friends” and “Just C” are two of the record’s shorter songs—in both time and title—while “Notwithstanding” and “Lady and Friend” are slightly longer, more complex numbers. Though a skillful set, Gilgamesh was a commercial disappointment. The band took a brief hiatus before releasing a second and final lp called Another Fine Tune You’ve Got Me Into (1978).

Notes: Here is an audio-only YouTube clip of “Notwithstanding” from Gilgamesh: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_SBr_oaZaQ.