Gilgamesh was one of BritainΓÇÖs legendary Canterbury bands. Founded by keyboardist/composer Alan Gowen in 1973, the bandΓÇÖs early lineup included Neil Murray (later of National Health and Black Sabbath) on bass, Phil Lee (later of National Health) on guitar, and Mike Travis (later of Stomu YamashΓÇÖta and Hugh Hopper) on drums. The quartet of Gowen, Murray, Lee, and Travis recorded a Gilgamesh demo in 1973 and played about a dozen shows, including two with Hatfield and the North.
Shortly after its shows with Hatfield and the North, Gilgamesh briefly became a quintet. Murray left the band and two new members joined Gilgamesh: bassist Steve Cook (later of Soft Machine) and keyboardist Peter Leimer (later of Mike Oldfield). As a quintet, Gilgamesh played a number of shows in England.
In 1975, Gilgamesh was once again a quartet. With a lineup now containing Gowen, Lee, Travis, and a new member, bassist Jeff Clyne, the band recorded its self-titled album for Virgin Records. It also played several shows. Shortly after Virgin released GilgameshΓÇÖs first album, Gowen co-founded a new band, National Health. Gilgamesh then fell apart.
Arriving Twice consists of previously unreleased Gilgamesh recordings from 1973-75. It includes a number of songs that have never before been heard by the public, and different versions of compositions that appear on their first album. Additionally, Arriving Twice includes a 16-page booklet on the history of Alan Gowen. Illustrated with photographs and containing interviews with GowenΓÇÖs musician colleagues, the booklet comprehensively discusses GowenΓÇÖs career up to and including his work with Gilgamesh.
Gowen briefly revived and reformed Gilgamesh for the sole purpose of recording an album after he left National Health in 1977. Another Fine Tune YouΓÇÖve Got Me Into, GilgameshΓÇÖs second album, was released in 1978. The new version of Gilgamesh dissolved before ever playing live.
In 1979, Gowen would rejoin National Health. After that bandΓÇÖs demise in 1980, Gowen recorded two releases: Before A Word Is Said, with Phil Miller, Richard Sinclair, and Trevor Tomkin, and Two Rainbows Daily with Hugh Hopper (Cuneiform Rune 77). Expose called Two Rainbows Daily "another fine album of jazz improvisation which showcases harmonic and compositional sensitivity [probably the trademark of all Canterbury releases]". i/e applauded both of these releases: "If you like Robert WyattΓÇÖs melancholic strain of Canterbury jazz-rock, and the schoolΓÇÖs penchant for incredibly sophisticated instrumental passages, all of these records are highly recommended." They were the last works Gowen would ever record. Gowen died of leukemia in 1981.
Cuneiform is honored to make public more of GowenΓÇÖs graceful compositions as well as information on this key Canterbury figureΓÇÖs career. Arriving Twice sheds light on an important chapter in the history of the Canterbury School.
