Violinist Dider Lockwood contributes a couple standout performances near the end of the album.

Steve Winwood is also featured on this track playing synth, although his still complementary performance doesn't stand out quite as much. The song features a few majestic buildups of percussive genius with Oldfield's instantly identifiable guitar serving as wonderful icing on the cake. It's reminiscent of the works on Oldfield's contemporary Incantations album (also featuring Moerlen and an album that I consider one of my 10 desert island discs), and is equal to those tracks. The centerpiece of this disc is the title track, which is a sort of collaboration with Mike Oldfield. Moerlen is also extremely skilled and innovative on vibraphone, as is his brother Benoit who takes up the vibraphone duties on four of the tracks on Downwind. The simple fact is I find vibraphones to be sort of mind-shifting, and they show up on every track here. Lacking much of a psychedelic edge, my rating of four on the trip-o-meter may seem a little confusing. When Acid Mother's Temple recorded a tribute album to Moerlen a few years ago, I was a little confused as to why they were lamenting a drummer, but after hearing albums like this and You, it makes perfect sense. Besides, Moerlen continues to show his skill as one of rock's best drummers. The psychedelia and whimsy is toned way down in favor for jazz/fusion and progressive sounds, although the band retains a gift for instrumental passages that take off for outer space and an extremely high level of musicianship, both technically and artistically.

In fact Moerlen is the only holdover from that classic era. Pierre Moerlen adding his name to the band's name may seem like an egotistical move, but it actually makes a lot of sense as this is not the 'Radio Gnome' Gong at all. Although adorned with a cover destined for the museum of bad cover art and a title such waiting for fart jokes, Downwind features some exceptional music hidden within its grooves.

Mike oldfield incantations rar