Gilgamesh
Arriving Twice

The work under analysis is not a mere album, nor a plain collection of unreleased recordings; "Arriving Twice", published in 2000, almost assumes the value of a book, narrating the exploits of Alan Gowen and his companions from the formation of Gilgamesh until the release of their first album, in a continuous and captivating exploration and evolution of their style, during the period from 1973 to 1975.

The truly interesting element to note is precisely how the harmony between the instruments and the variety of sound increase as the tracks unfold (thanks to their chronological arrangement), highlighting, among other things, the constant growth of the synergy between Alan, ever-engaged on keyboards, guitarist Phil Lee, and drummer Mike Travis.

In 1973, the first incarnation of the band, with Neil Murray on bass, saw Phil occupying much more space than what would later be his definitive role within the band, which is clearly showcased in "With Lady and Friend", where his guitar, not yet mitigated by Alan's keyboards (literally short on instruments at the time), practically carries the piece on its own, relegating the others to mere accompanists. The situation is more balanced in the long and complex "You're Disguised", where everyone finds a way to express themselves fully, although Phil is still the backbone of the piece.

"Island of Rhodes", dated 1974, features the second keyboardist Peter Lemer and Steve Cook on bass. It is impressive to see how the latter is impactful and central, yet diligently serving Alan's keyboards throughout the track's full execution. One of the album's highlights is undoubtedly the beautiful "Extract", introduced by a wonderful piano solo and executed with grace and mastery, particularly by Mike and his gentle jazzy touch, a rarity indeed. The composition is, as the title shrewdly suggests, an extract of "The Double Quartet", a piece about forty minutes long, never recorded in its entirety, written by Alan for the two dates where Gilgamesh played with Hatfield and the North the previous year.

The following pieces on the album, all from 1975, show how the band's sound has finally found its balance and stability, shedding Peter and Steve and acquiring bassist Jeff Clyne; it is no coincidence that "One End More", "Arriving Twice", and "Notwithstanding", also featured on the debut album, are quite similar to their final versions. The concluding "Lady and Friend" is the same track that opens the album, this time however with Jeff replacing Neil and Alan's keyboards finally weaving that sweet and dreamy atmosphere and that subtle magic that would from then on characterize all of his brief but invaluable production.