NIGHT OF THE HAWKS (EP)

The title track is a bit pedestrian, but it's the B side that this EP is worth buying for. Green Finned Demon is a different version to the version on Brock's 1st solo LP. Dragons and Fables is, in my opinion, one of the best tracks that Huw Lloyd Langton has ever written and is worth the cover price alone. The original 12 inch single came with a different pic sleeve to the one shown here.

The Night of the Hawks release was subtitled "The Earth Ritual Preview", because it was supposed to be pioneering material which would make up a new conceptual concert piece, much like Space Ritual did back in Hawkwind's prime. However, lineup changes - and in particular the loss of Nik Turner - scuppered the plans, and we got The Chronicle of the Black Sword instead.

Still, whatever Earth Ritual was going to be, it sounds like it would have been pretty fun. The title track here is a rockier number that features Lemmy guesting on bass, and though it would perhaps have been too much to expect him to return for the main Earth Ritual performances it's an interesting mashup of Hawkwind's past with some of their more straight-ahead rock-oriented songwriting of the 1980s. Green Finned Demon takes a more electronic and progressive approach, and is perhaps closer to what the Earth Ritual would have actually sounded like. Dream Dancers is an odd ambient piece, whilst EP closer Dragons & Fables is perhaps the best song on here, a nostalgic reminiscence about the joy of fantasy which later got a memorable workout on Live Chronicles.

The Hawks are back

3.5 stars

Also released under the strange title "The Earth Ritual Preview" with a different cover art, "Night of the Hawks" was a project initiated by former lead signer Robert Calvert. With Dave Brock, they wanted to create a studio brother to the well-known 70's double live album "Space Ritual", with the participation of ex-members. However, the project was aborted, and this EP gathers its only few recordings sessions.

Nevertheless, after the errance of the 1982 albums, the inspiration finally comes back. These four tracks are quite good and each one shows a particular facet of the band: aggressive, ambient, electronic and fantasy.

The heavy space metal title track is in direct lineage of the thundering "Levitation". Featuring Lemmy at bass and vocals, this powerful tune is one simply one of the best compositions of the Hawks during the 80's! The hazy ambient song "Green Finned Demon" is quite ahead of its time and will be interpreted live in more electronic versions. "Dream Dancers" is a short synthesizer sequenced transition, in the dark style of John Carpenter's "New York 1997", whereas the heroic fantasy "Dragons And Fables" is the other highlight of the disc. This enchanting track will be interpreted live in a enhanced version on the "Live Chronicles" double album.

Despite its short length, "Night of the Hawks" is therefore important in HAWKWIND's discography, as it features three essential eighties songs of the band that will often be played at concerts. Furthermore, this EP is a turning point for the Hawks, the composition quality and focus have (at least) returned. Mandatory for every fan of their 80's material.

If the project hasn't been aborted, "Earth Ritual" could have been a great studio opus, on the same level as "Levitation". Instead, Dave Brock preferred to develop a concept album narrating the adventures of an important character from Michael Moorcock's mythology, Elric...

NOTE: This EP is now included on certain remastered versions of "The Chronicle Of The Black Sword"