DOREMI FASOL LATIDO

The title of this third Hawkwind album appears at first glance to be some mysterious and powerful incantation, but then one realizes it is merely the names of the notes of the major scale. That sums up the nature of this music. The titles of the tracks and the extraterrestrial noises may give the impression of something arcane and profound, but casting the veneer aside, this is a collection of wonky and lumbering rock tunes with repetitive beats and horrible vocals. The only "space rock" aspect of the album are the galactic noises that weave in and out of the music- otherwise, this is very similar to proto-prog and prog-related rock bands of the late 1960s and early 1970s- just not very good.

"Brainstorm" This lengthy opener is a rambunctious song with exaggerated and poorly-recorded vocals. The riffing is repetitive and does not justify the length of the piece at all. The tremolo effects on the guitar goings-on at the end of the track are cool, but not really a part of the composition.

"Space is Deep" Eerie acoustic guitar and queer space noises introduce a pleasantly straightforward chord progression and a gritty lead vocal. The tacky "third-kind" noises continue on throughout the entire track. The music later adopts a two chord rhythmic jam, but the acoustic meandering at the end is the best part.

"One Change" Trembling low tones, accompanied by lighter notes, make up this fifty-second instrumental.

"Lord of Light" After the obligatory galactic sound effects, a grainy rock song ensues. It has a throaty bass, a crispy rhythm electric guitar, energetic drumming, and second-rate vocals. The dizzying bass solo is the highlight.

"Down Through the Night" Airy synthetic sounds dominate the background, as light acoustic guitar and distant flute. This frothy tune has strange vocals and vocalizations that make me think of a marijuana-smoking deadbeat with a dream of becoming a rock star.

"Time We Left This World Today" Over an indolent groove, there's a slothful bunch of call and response vocals and experimental guitar. The piece drones on with a loose bunch of noises, buzzing and squealing like giant insects attacking a nunnery.

"The Watcher" The final track is a lazy acoustic blues number- very boring and uninspired. "This is the end now," the song helpfully informs.