As ever original space rockers
Hawkwind go where nobody has gone before,
not because of any particular enterprise,
but perhaps because they don’t care if
everybody else just thinks they are off
their collective rockers.
This is a science fiction concept album
in support of the oppressed people of
the planet earth, does this sound a little
pretentious to you, well it is, but I’m
sure that the boys have got their collective
hearts in the right place.
The music starts off with the arrival
of the flying saucer to abduct our hero
away, to find out why the human race are
so bent on self discruction. This of course
makes total confusion amongst the aliens,
leading us into a wonderous journey through
the music of Hawkwind. As the earthling
attempts to return to earth without blowing
every bodies minds, what a journey it
is, after the rejection of all things
alien we are whisked into Blue Skin territory
where the multiple layers of vocals, synths,
keyboards, and wave sequencers, sooth
our worried brows before being propelled
forward for more adventures, including
the hilarity of a song called “Beam Me
Up” (surely this is self explanatory),
and a meeting with the urban space dustbin
man “Sputnik Stan” (well presumably it’s
a job that somebody will have to do in
the future, good tips in space at Christmas
I hope) we’re finally bought back to a
festival where the first band on the stage
are Hawkwind, so the album finishes with
the first 3 songs of Hawkwinds live set
from 1996 leaving you with the final song
“Are You Losing Your Mind” which couldn’t
be more apt, and has brought you full
circle.
Confused yet? You should be if your not,
you’ve obviously lost the plot and picked
it up at the wrong spot.
This was a magnificent return to form
by Hawkwind, and is the first studio album
to feature Ron Tree on vocals and in true
Hawkwind fashion he virtual takes over,
dominating most of the songs, before being
fired by Captain Dave Brock the following
year. Oh well such is the life of a Hawklord.
Bring back Nik Turner I say.
If you want to go into cosmic interstellar
overdrive and your never sure whether
to wag your tail or your head them this
is the album for you.
Pawed by Mott The Dog
Remastered by Ella Crew
E-mail: review@mott-the-dog.com
