Some
of the members of Hawkwind, the ones that live close to where Dave Brock lives
and has the Hawkwind studio, have put together this record. All the songs are
by Dave, Richard (Drums, vocals) and Niall (guitar, bass). The material was
recorded in 2011 and appears as outtakes, experiments, strange visions, and
stuff that just did not fit in with the Onward LP. I have to say the CD is real
mixed bag. Some of it is really great and some just does not speak to me. The
CD came out in December 2012 and the vinyl edition is due out in April and
limited to 500 copies. 11 tracks, 53mins starting off with Stellar Perspective.
The sound is quite psychedelic with multiple layers of guitars, spinning,
pulsing synths and Dave’s vocal with some effects and more to the back and it
slowly moves more to the front. Richard takes the 2nd lead vocal as
the track slows down. Great bass playing. All our Dreams is more tranquiel and
spacey with a more spoken word vocal. That classic spacey Dave Brock guitar is
so nice. The track really evolves into an almost like dance track but maintains
this cool guitar line. Not sure the keyboard really fits but what the hell.
Cool track. Damp day in August is a short piece that leads into the up tempo
and political track, It’s all Lies. Niall lays down the cool bass line and a
catchy political track takes hold (“Forget about religion, it’s down with the
Pope!”). Variation 3 is a short instrumental track with a lot of strange
overdubs and sounds but a nice lead guitar section complimenting the distorted
Fender Rhodes like piano. Four Legs good, two legs Bad has programmed drums and
would have fit well on the White Zone record with its ambient space keyboard line. It takes a dramatic change at 1min and then
the repeated song title with strange voices, barking dogs, etc.. is quite far
out.. almost disturbing. In the Footsteps of the Great One is next and I wonder
who they are talking about as you can’t tell from the lyrics, some of which
Dave borrows from some of his older songs. IT starts with an eastern string
instrument before the spacey synths and vocals take over. Quite a few layers of
stuff going on as the drum groove kicks in to give the track a steady rhythm.
Spaced out! A song for a New Age is one the band has played live in the past
(and written by Tim Blake) features Richard on the main vocal and Dave plays a
nice guitar solo while Niall gives the track its main body with great bass
playing. The track is pretty basic and not nearly as layered as most of the
tracks. We serve Mankind starts with a trance techno like keyboard that briefly
fades to the back as the guitar, bass and drums take over this dark electronic
track. City of Rust starts with a flight introduction sample before the track
begins. Powerful lyrics on this one and delivered in a spoken word fashion,
kind of like the Calvert-Brock CD. Then at 1½ mins it turns into one of the
most rocking tracks on the CD. Instant Predictions closes the CD also in a
rocking way with Richard on the lead vocal. It has a really spaced out sound.
Pretty cool record.
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