THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Tag: hawkwind

HAWKWIND – Space Ritual

November 19, 2022 /

Well the randomizer has spookily picked this one for me to review just after the death of Nik Turner, an early influential member of the band. Hawkwind are quite an odd band to categorize as they have flowed though many genres and influences throughout their long career. This album was recorded at Brixton and London way back in ’72 when Lemmy was still a member, and you can hear that very percussive style throughout the album.

As a side note, I vaguely remember spending a weekend in the Pennines somewhere as Hawkwind entertained us, emphasis on the word vaguely. It was definitely an experience seeing the band around this time as the projections and dancers were all part of the vibe with repetitive music and out of this world lyrics. There was a weird aura about the band that’s for sure. You have to listen to this in a very dimly lit room with candles and incense burning to create the vibe. It’s very hard to pick a favourite as this album all comes together as a whole, but the space rock vibes of Born To Go edge it.

7.5/10 from The Grooveman.

HAWKWIND – Levitation

November 26, 2021 /

Hawkwind are not a band you would associate with technological advancements, yet this album was the first full digital recording. I remember hearing it at the time and being wowed with how clear it was, and it still sounds great today. Also of note, the great Ginger Baker is on drums adding some groove to proceedings. This is my favourite Hawkwind album, I love every inch of this record. The stock space rock they earn their beans with has an added musicality to it this time around. This version, as well as the original album, has a bonus Live at Lewisham double album.

The lead off and title track is one of the best Hawkwind tracks imho with Bakers’ pounding groove, superb bass playing from Harvey Bainbridge, and coupled with Dave Brock’s superb lyrics…winner, winner chicken dinner! The secret weapon on this album is the guitar playing of Huw Lloyd Langton who adds some great leads to all tracks. World Of Tiers steals the Peter Green riff from Oh Well with added spacey keyboards. The very Pink Floyd sounding, Who’s Gonna Win The War, is the big anti war message for this album and it sounds great on the live album. It’s says on the cover “A Headphone Album” and indeed it sounds superb with all the electronic interludes and the instrumental Space Chase sounds superb. Dust Of Time closes out the main album, and like so many Hawkwind songs, it is such a simple arrangement but it’s all the layers that have been added that make this such a cool track.

The live album is from the Levitation tour which I attended, and is a great document for Live Hawkwind at this time. It might be hard to find this version, but just the Levitation album by itself should be easy to find.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

HAWKWIND – Quark, Strangeness and Charm

January 2, 2021 /

Somewhat of a British Institution, Hawkwind were called new age before it came fashionable. This version is the 2020 RSD double clear vinyl. More famous outside of the UK for giving birth to Motörhead – as them firing Lemmy directly led to the birth of that band. The term Space Rock was, to my knowledge, first given to Hawkwind as their imagery and lyrics were all about other worlds and science fiction – partly due to there collaboration with sci-fi author Michael Moorcock.

This album, believe it or not, spawned 2 singles. The lead off track Spirit of the Age, which is just a simple rocker, and the title track Quark, Strangeness and Charm, which I have always liked – with a robotic simple chorus by Bob Calvert that won’t leave your mind. The second disc is given over to alternate versions and takes.

I remember seeing them play live and the track Damnation Alley would extend forever in the middle eight section so all the hippies could trip out. Hawkwind would do that quite a lot as their gigs were really long. I always thought their albums were really out there at the time, but the years that have passed I have realized that is not the case and the songs are quite simple.

I am sure if Hawkwind had all the technology available to them from today, their imagery and themes would have blown peoples minds. Dave Brock is still out there touring as Hawkwind, or which other incarnation of Hawk he is doing, and more power to him for doing it.

7/10 from The Grooveman.

Archives

© 2024 THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑