Hawkwind
Printed From: Progarchives.com
Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
Forum Description: Discuss specific prog bands and their members or a specific sub-genre
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=96155
Printed Date: February 25 2025 at 11:45
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Hawkwind
Posted By: The Mystical
Subject: Hawkwind
Date Posted: December 03 2013 at 01:27
|
Hawkwind has been my favourite band for a year now, and it seems that they are generally regarded as one of the greats of space rock. But how come their albums are so lowly rated here on progarchives? I have heard the argument "their musicality is too messy", but then how come albums like 'Trout Mask Replica' are rated so highly? I don't really mind, but it seems to me that the founders of space-rock should get more recognition in an online progressive rock community. BTW, to all you Hawkwind fans, check out Nik-Turner's "Space Gypsy". Fantastical sh*t. ------------- I am currently digging: Hawkwind, Rare Bird, Gong, Tangerine Dream, Khan, Iron Butterfly, and all things canterbury and hard-psych. I also love jazz! Please drop me a message with album suggestions. |
Replies:
Posted By: Toaster Mantis
Date Posted: December 03 2013 at 03:37
|
As far as both music style and artistic ethos are concerned, HW really have more in common with the "Kosmische Musik" scene of Germany/Austria/Switzerland than with the rest of their generation's British prog/psych scene. I've once heard them described as the most German-sounding band to ever come out of the UK and it's not an unfair description. ------------- "The past is not some static being, it is not a previous present, nor a present that has passed away; the past has its own dynamic being which is constantly renewed and renewing." - Claire Colebrook |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: December 03 2013 at 03:41
|
Check out Nik Turner's Sphynx - Xitintoday - Fantastical sh*t !!!
And the Hawk's 'Electric Tepee', 'It Is The Business Of The Future To Be Dangerous', 'Levitation' etc. etc. (if you haven't already...). Hawkwind are awesome, though not everyone's cuppa tea. |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: December 03 2013 at 03:51
Who knows? Maybe Hawkwind lack the whimsy most prog is known for, or maybe their music doesn't contain gratuitous displays of technical proficiency, or maybe many of their albums have a more mainstream feel, and on and on. Space rock doesn't have the same allure as symph, but that's okay. It just means there's something for everybody. Hawkwind have albums I don't care for, but the ones I like -- Warrior, Quark, Chronicle (etc.) -- I REALLY like. And that's what matters.  ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
The Mystical wrote:Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: December 03 2013 at 04:42
|
As much as I love Hawkwind, they could pretty inconsistent with quality, both in terms of musicanship and production, especially pre 1980's. Even their best albums have awful low points, where it's clear that had either run out of money, time, ideas, or were simply too battered or couldn't be bothered to finish the album in a coherant way.
You never quite knew what you were going to get with Hawkwind. Was Nik Turner going to play in tune on this album? Was half the album going to comprise appalling bootlegs of mediocre live performances that you would never want to hear, because they didn't have enough material for an album, but had a deadline to release an album anyway. Albums like Astounding Sounds and Levitation are examples of how great Hawkwind could really be when they had the material, had reherased the material, took production seriously, and didn't do too many drugs. ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: December 03 2013 at 08:11
|
Hi, To this day, if there is a perfect band for me to play on my car LOUD, this is it.
I still love it and I do not see the ability to stop loving it. ------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: December 03 2013 at 10:18
|
I think the first 6 counting Space Ritual are all rated fairly. They did do quite a few mediocre albums in the 80's and 90's.
I don't own anything after Warrior but I've been meaning to pick up Quark and Levitation for a long time. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: December 03 2013 at 10:47
|
Hawkwind is an easy band to enjoy. It's like picking up a fantasy novel. As long as you're willing to go along on their particular trip, they will entertain you almost without fail. There are good Hawkwind albums and great Hawkwind albums, but I have yet to hear a bad Hawkwind album -- HOWEVER: one must be careful when buying something with the Hawkwind name on it. I can only vouch 100% for their original studio albums. There are a ton of weird-ass compilations and dubious live albums out there that are definitely of extremely variable quality. But stick to the original studio albums and some wisely chosen live albums, and you're set. ------------- My other avatar is a Porsche It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle if it is lightly greased. -Kehlog Albran |
Posted By: Padraic
Date Posted: December 03 2013 at 10:51
Then I must really be screwing something up.
 |
Posted By: schizoidman
Date Posted: December 03 2013 at 11:09
I've listened to several of their albums but Hawkwind and I remain a disconnect. I just can't get into their musical trip. ------------- Making the useless useful 24/7. |
Posted By: The.Crimson.King
Date Posted: December 03 2013 at 12:36
|
I bought "In Search of Space" when I was 16 and hated it so I wrote them off for many years. Fast forward about 20 years and I became good friends with a Hawkwind fanatic and decided to give them another try. He loaned me "Quark Strangeness and Charm" and "Warrior on the Edge of Time" as my first 2 albums as he considered those the most proggy. I loved them both instantly and went on to build a decent sized Hawkwind discography. I think they were at their best on stage with the "Friday Rock Show" and "California Brainstorm" albums. I loved the way they took their early 70's classics ("Assault and Battery", "Brainstorm", "Masters of the Universe") and re-energized them for the 80's/90's. Fantastic band but highly misunderstood by prog fans  ------------- https://wytchcrypt.wixsite.com/mutiny-in-jonestown" rel="nofollow - Mutiny in Jonestown : Progressive Rock Since 1987 |
Posted By: Luis de Sousa
Date Posted: December 03 2013 at 14:05
|
I feel this with some records, especially "Hall of the Mountain Grill", where the Mellotron met Space Rock for the first time. There are others like "This is Hawkwind do not panic" and "Live Seventy Nine" with rates well below 4 that are quite decieving. As for masterpieces like "Space Ritual" and "Warrior on the Edge of Time" I understand that the poetry can turn down some people, but the rate above is in this case a good indication. Best. ------------- http://attheedgeoftime.blogspot.com/search/label/music" rel="nofollow - Music musings | http://www.last.fm/user/Luis_de_Sousa" rel="nofollow - Last.fm profile |
Posted By: Toaster Mantis
Date Posted: December 04 2013 at 04:28
|
To elaborate what I was talking about with Hawkwind coming from a completely different angle than the other British progressive rock groups of their generation: While their music definitely is progressive in the sense of thinking outside the box and expanding the musical vocabulary of rock, there's not much in the way of classical technical virtuosity on display or influence from classical music. (until Hall of the Mountain Grill that is) It's more like they're deconstructing psychedelic rock and then re-assembling it in unusual ways, going more for an otherworldly atmosphere than an intricate forwards progressing sonata compositional format. (hence the Krautrock comparisons) Not to mention that their approach to instrument playing is really more punk than anything else. ------------- "The past is not some static being, it is not a previous present, nor a present that has passed away; the past has its own dynamic being which is constantly renewed and renewing." - Claire Colebrook |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: December 04 2013 at 04:53
| Some of Hawkwind's music is deceptively complex in that they utilise many, many layers of synths, samples, instruments, and all at various, selected points in songs. I cite a fantastic example with 'Electric Tepee' - so dense, virtuosic bass from Davey, incredible ideas and constructions, very well written/arranged songs and just a plain brilliant album. The weakest factor on many Hawk albums is the production, in this case, the drums suffer from an '80's hangover' sound, which may deter the listener from realising its amazing, overall power. |
Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: December 04 2013 at 09:18
There was a musician friend of mine that once said that Hawkwind was cheating the music. I asked what he meant and he said, that most musicians use an effect for 10 to 15 seconds, and that Hawkwind abused the priviledge by stretching that effect for 5 minutes, and then people thinking it was trip music because of the changes in the sound itself!
When I said that it was exactly that you felt when you took some psychs and other goodies, and he goes ... really?
Some of us are trippers! Others are NOT! ------------- Music is not just for listening ... it is for LIVING ... you got to feel it to know what's it about! Not being told! www.pedrosena.com |
Posted By: Luis de Sousa
Date Posted: December 04 2013 at 09:48
And what about Robert's poetry? ------------- http://attheedgeoftime.blogspot.com/search/label/music" rel="nofollow - Music musings | http://www.last.fm/user/Luis_de_Sousa" rel="nofollow - Last.fm profile |
Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: December 04 2013 at 09:57
I see them as kind of a weird ass version of early/middle Pink Floyd with rougher edges and odd ball songs...and some one mentioned Krautrock in relation to their music which I think is true.
Now, Hall and Warrior are two of my favorite things from that time period. ------------- One does nothing yet nothing is left undone. Haquin |
Posted By: The.Crimson.King
Date Posted: December 04 2013 at 12:03
That is a totally bizarre coincidence! Once again, great minds thinking alike  I actually bought "In Search of Space" in 1976. I'd been into prog about a year and was looking for something beyond the ELP/Yes/Tull/Genesis bunch and I loved the cover. I could not believe what I was hearing...I absolutely hated it and returned it to the record store the next day. Everything turned out ok though as I really got into Hawkwind 20 years later...but I still didn't like "In Search of Space"
 ------------- https://wytchcrypt.wixsite.com/mutiny-in-jonestown" rel="nofollow - Mutiny in Jonestown : Progressive Rock Since 1987 |
Posted By: Toaster Mantis
Date Posted: December 04 2013 at 12:09
|
Luis and Tom, my point is that HW don't show that influence as readily or do quite the same things with it as ELP/Genesis/KC etc. (and perhaps not from the exact same sources either) ------------- "The past is not some static being, it is not a previous present, nor a present that has passed away; the past has its own dynamic being which is constantly renewed and renewing." - Claire Colebrook |
Posted By: akamaisondufromage
Date Posted: December 04 2013 at 13:07
|
Hawkwind are SpaceGods! (On SiIver Bicycles) ------------- Help me I'm falling! |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: December 04 2013 at 13:09
(often leads to sloppy work, but they often abstained whilst recording from the late-70's onward)
|
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: December 04 2013 at 13:12
(which lead to sloppy work - Brocky ended up banning drug use during many a recording session from Astounding Sounds onwards). I think Alan Davey is up there amongst the great Prog bassists, try his solo album 'Captured Rotation'.
|
Posted By: qwiksand
Date Posted: December 04 2013 at 14:23
|
Super band but dogged by poor quality control as even on their best albums they always had filler material (and on their poorest more filler than good stuff. However when they were good they were very good.
Like some of you have mentioned I wasn't impressed by In Search of Space when I first heard it. Hall of the Mountain Grill was the one that hooked me enough to make me buy the earlier ones and they soon became a favourite. Over the last year or so I finally got round to buying all the studio albums and love a good number of them (even some of the ones with poor ratings on here).
|
Posted By: dr prog
Date Posted: December 04 2013 at 15:33
|
Before 1976 I find their compositions very amateur. It's just hard punk rock with some space synth. When Lemmy left they instantly sounded miles better. Love astounding sounds. The next 3 albums were solid then Levitaton is very good. Don't really like anything outside the 1976-80 period though apart from the occasional track ------------- All I like is prog related bands beginning late 60's/early 70's. Their music from 1968 - 83 has the composition and sound which will never be beaten. Perfect blend of jazz, classical, folk and rock. |
Posted By: Toaster Mantis
Date Posted: December 04 2013 at 16:42
|
Dave Brock's rhythm guitar playing is also very inventive from the S/T and onwards. Not to mention the '72-'75 lineup having one of my favourite rhythm sections ever in the tag team of a young Lemmy Kilmister and the criminally underrated Simon King. ------------- "The past is not some static being, it is not a previous present, nor a present that has passed away; the past has its own dynamic being which is constantly renewed and renewing." - Claire Colebrook |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: December 04 2013 at 17:53
| ^Lemmy and King were inseperable, but it's Chadwick and Davey who are Hawks dream-team rhythm section IMO. |
Posted By: Drew
Date Posted: January 02 2014 at 17:55
|
I was about to start a "where do I start with Hawkiwind?" type of thread- but I remembered to do a search... Any recommendations? ------------- |
Posted By: akamaisondufromage
Date Posted: January 02 2014 at 18:10
You should start with Space Ritual and it is probably Marmite. Then Warrior on the Edge of Time which is probably the preferred dose of Hawkwind on this site. Then you should listen to Quark Strangeness and Charm. If you haven't been put off then listen to any of their 70s output. ------------- Help me I'm falling! |
Posted By: Drew
Date Posted: January 02 2014 at 18:27
  ------------- |
Posted By: Toaster Mantis
Date Posted: January 03 2014 at 03:15
|
I started with Hall of the Mountain Grill. Along with Warrior... that LP is probably the closest to archetypical British early-'70s progressive rock as those albums represent HW's flirtation with a more symphonic style.
------------- "The past is not some static being, it is not a previous present, nor a present that has passed away; the past has its own dynamic being which is constantly renewed and renewing." - Claire Colebrook |
Posted By: Stool Man
Date Posted: January 17 2014 at 12:39
|
Today I saw a 3CD set called "Parallel Universe" - is it any good?
------------- rotten hound of the burnie crew |
Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: January 19 2014 at 17:07
I agree, except for starting with Space Ritual. Probably not the best starting point for noobs. ------------- https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay |
Posted By: Hawkwise
Date Posted: January 19 2014 at 18:24
|
The Current line up ( the most staple in there history ) have been recording and playing some the Best Hawkwind stuff for a many a long year there last few albums have been brilliant fresh vibrant space rock/prog that you can find anywhere out there today.
I always find it amusing in Hawkwind threads that a band that have been flying for 40 OD years are then judged by a 10 year period in the 70s , there some people say there was poor albums in the 80s utter tosh they made some stunning music in that period . and through the early 90s and on they again made some stunning FRESH Vibrant space prog and ambient music Electric Tepee and It's the Business of the future to be Dangerous are two stunningly brilliant albums. And then there is Calvert Charisma years, Calvert song writing is second to none all backed up Dave Brock mastery Of the space rock realm. Judging a band who been plying there trad for 40 years by just hearing a few there albums seems a tad silly. All there Core studio albums are well worth having , dont judge a band by the Od weird put together studio out takes and demos and bits of live stuff of which for Hawkwind there is plenty out there. All There core studio albums are rather good in there own hawkish way. Onward Fly's the Bird ..................... ------------- 
|
Posted By: tszirmay
Date Posted: January 19 2014 at 18:42
|
I may have mentioned this previously but of all the bands in prog, there is no one quite like Hawkwind in that if you rely on studio or live albums, you really don't get the full picture. I saw Lemmy's last concert in Montreal and that was a life-changing experience. Could not listen to anything after that show for 3 days! Montreal Jazz festival founder Andre Menard actually promoted that gig and still considers it among the top 10 shows he had ever seen (along with Soft Machine). Once you see them live, the opinion varies immensely on their value to prog. ------------- I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth. |
Posted By: akamaisondufromage
Date Posted: January 20 2014 at 12:03
I know what you mean, however, I'm basing my recommendations on my own experience. A friend at school lent me Space Ritual and I loved it immediately. I can't understand anyone not liking it. Although, having said that, even though for Hawkfans Space Ritual is the pot of spacedust at the end of the rainbow, progfans may find it a little repetitive and unproggy. For me I find something new every time I listen to it, even after 30 years (Ugh no!), it is a godlikebrainf**k of an album! My only criticism is some of Bob's poetry. I would add that Hawkwise is entirely correct and I apologise. Hawkwind history does not stop with Levitation. I have bought Onward and Blood recently and they are both cracking albums highly recommended stuff and might even be preferable to younger space-ears. Earth calling, this is Earth Calling, Earth calling........ ------------- Help me I'm falling! |
Posted By: TQ
Date Posted: February 08 2014 at 18:12
|
In search of something more 'progressive' (more challenging) I bought Space Ritual when I was about 17. I was confused for about half an hour and then it just clicked. I have seen them tons of times since, sometimes they are sublime, sometimes, well, rubbish. But that's part of what makes them great - they are forever shifting around their central sound without ever going too far.
But they are not really progressive now. I think Radiohead and Bjork are truly progressive. 
|
Posted By: Gryphon
Date Posted: February 08 2014 at 22:38
| hawkwind in the 70's - great band. after that - not so great. |
Posted By: Toaster Mantis
Date Posted: February 09 2014 at 04:39
|
Has anyone else noticed Hawkwind's influence on 1980s goth rock: Christian Death, The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees etc.? The entire technically minimalistic yet texturally elaborate soundscape-building composition style focused around driving basslines is very similar, as is the atmosphere of otherworldly pulp fiction camp.(just Hammer horror instead of New Wave science-fiction) Not to mention that I just realized how much Rozz Williams sounded like an evil version of Bob Calvert. The other '60s/'70s psych influence on '80s goth, that of The Doors, is one people are much more willing to acknowledge probably because Ian Astbury ended up singing for them when they reunited. ------------- "The past is not some static being, it is not a previous present, nor a present that has passed away; the past has its own dynamic being which is constantly renewed and renewing." - Claire Colebrook |
Posted By: TODDLER
Date Posted: February 09 2014 at 11:55
|
Posted By: TODDLER
Date Posted: February 09 2014 at 12:12
|
I loved the Calvert years the best. Also Huw LLoyd Langton's contributions in the 80's. "Sea King" and 'Solitary Mind Games" were great songs. I also like "Sword of the East" from Xeon Codex. Warrior On the Edge Of Time , Hall of the Mountain Grill, and In Search Of Space were the first albums I heard. I liked every period of Hawkwind until they hired Arthur Brown ,,,whose voice does not fit the Hawkwind style. He sat on stage reading the lyrics and sometimes ...still getting the words wrong...like Elvis did with "My Way" He can recite a Satanic mass, but he can't get the Hawkwind lyrics right? I'm not serious...I'm only joking. I've owned many recordings of Arthur Brown and Vincent Crane...and probably around 75 Hawkwind cd's. and not counting all the off shoot bands along with complete collections of solo works from most of the Hawkwind band members for decades. I am up and down with Dave Brock's writing, but it doesn't stop me from liking many of Hawkwind's albums. I only enjoy periods of their career. I saw Bridget Wishhart with Hawkwind at the Ambler Cafe and she put on the perfect Space Rock show with an outstanding presentation. She would constantly, through out the night, exit the stage to change her costumes. She covered many Calvert songs, wore the costume fitting to the story, and acted out parts along with dance performance. What a great show! It was like revisiting Calvert for an evening...but I knew she was going to leave or be sacked by Dave Brock. That's been an on going pattern for decades. With Ginger Baker I could understand why Brock would make that choice....but it's been sad to see all the great members come and go. The innovative Hawkwind members that were very special. |
Posted By: TODDLER
Date Posted: February 11 2014 at 09:38
| This negative response to Hawkwind from an abundance of people dates back , (for me), to the year of 1973 when I brought Space Ritual to a Rock journalist's house ...who at the time , was my manager. He had connections, was interviewing Rick Wakeman over the phone..when I walked into his quarters..blah, blah whispering to me that I should pick up the other end and listen. A lot of journalists I've met over the many years in the music business dislike Hawkwind and it all seems to stem from this cold judgement that Hawkwind have zero ability in the department of writing. Nonsense! They are mostly being "hot shots" on a mission to flaunt their personal ego to everyone and all that bragging they do about their position in life makes me feel ill. I'm sure that Dave Brock feels the same way, regarding this situation revolving around the higher levels one obtains in the music business. |
Posted By: TODDLER
Date Posted: February 11 2014 at 09:50
| Levitation was well produced and demonstrated (on certain tracks), that a more serious ,musicianship side to Hawkwind existed. If you crank this up running through JBL Tower speakers? It's a fine production, Dave Brock has a very distinctive vocal sound and a very interesting style of vocal phrasing. Huw LLoyd Langton plays Classical nylon string on different tracks, Ginger Baker's drums sound mighty and daring. The mighty Ginger Baker , ex Cream member now playing with a band you've already followed for 10 years. At one point....Ginger Baker approached Dave Brock and suggested that he fire Harvey Bainbridge and bring in Jack Bruce. Dave Brock valued his friendship with Bainbridge and told Baker..."No Ginger, In fact it is you that's going" "Please .....pack your drums and leave" |
Posted By: TODDLER
Date Posted: February 11 2014 at 10:01
|
I saw them in Philadelphia , years ago...and just after Huw LLoyd Langton had departed. I was standing in line with my ticket when I noticed a guy running across the street and a car slamming the breaks and almost crashing into him...and wow...it turned out to be Dave Brock. He approached the sidewalk, lifted his arms in the air and explained to us that he couldn't get used to the highways and streets in America. He attempted to explain that In England ...everything is reversed and the driver's seat is to the right and so on..you know the deal? Then he walks over to the door, turns to us and says...."Oh, by the way...I hope we sound good tonight, because last night we sucked." I was laughing my head off. I thought he was a really interesting character and Hawkwind were amazing that night. |
Posted By: TODDLER
Date Posted: February 11 2014 at 10:18
|
Dave Brock has stated in the past...how the lyrics of Calvert were stories/predictions of the future and that most of them that exist in the present day are accurate. There are many beautiful things Brock misses in the friendship he had with Bob Calvert. In those days...Calvert was a fine writer...but..he was trying to be a Sci-Fi writer in real life while he was wrapped up in the music business. Dave Brock has been through some of the more lousy experiences in the music business. He is very angered and annoyed by the fact that Dave Anderson has been releasing between 2 to 3 new Hawkwind compilation cd's per year. Brock took legal action ..but he was faced with the task of someone on his team catching Anderson "red handed". No royalties for Brock in this case and the Hawkwind cd's keep surfacing. Brock recently had a confrontaion/debate with Nick Turner over who should be using the name Hawkwind. I do believe in my heart that Hawkwind is Dave Brock's band. |
Posted By: arctarus2708
Date Posted: February 12 2014 at 01:06
| I came to Hawkwind thru a friend's sister back in the mid 70's. it was their 1st album.. the weirdest in my opinion, never the less the more you played it and the more the hook went in... lots of bands have "concepts" & "themes"... Hawkwind were a little more committed than most....Hell just read the blurb on the back of their doreimefaslatido album (the one that introduces the band members)....the music has a passion and later their lyrical content had Calvert's touch.... What's not to like.. as far as popularity...I think that you kinda have to actively work and really listen...most people just listen to music to "fill in"...they lack the commitment..I think this is also true for the many other great, but obscure, bands that are out there...I'm 54 and still looking at new bands now...that journey started with Hawkwind |
Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: February 13 2014 at 06:35
|
I have to say I don't understand the respect Simon King gets. What's it based on??
It's a genuine question. I'm a drummer, and I can't hear what's good about him. Is it just the 'energy' he plays with?? ------------- Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy! |
Posted By: Toaster Mantis
Date Posted: February 16 2014 at 15:51
|
What I like about Simon King's style is how good he was at adapting the droning "Motorik" style of percussion to something that really rocks, his creatively detailed way of doing fills and most of all the skill at playing up against the rest of the rhythm section.
------------- "The past is not some static being, it is not a previous present, nor a present that has passed away; the past has its own dynamic being which is constantly renewed and renewing." - Claire Colebrook |
Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: February 16 2014 at 17:24
|
Hawkwind are one of my faves without a doubt. I love how when the album starts you are instantly transported into their cosmic realm, like no other band. they stand alone and don't compromise in their style. best albums for me are the classics of the 70s and a few from recent years. In no particular order LIVE   STUDIO     1980s   1990s  2000s   Brilliant band and these albums are as good as it gets For those new to the band with no albums at all grab this compilation 3 CDS of Hawkwind brilliance spanning their whole career to 2000  ------------- 
|
Posted By: AtomicCrimsonRush
Date Posted: February 16 2014 at 17:26
|
Oh by the way their first 5 albums are all fantastic and are all available for a cheap price with cardboard sleeves in a 5 CD box set! You might even like to buy this just cos its so cheap and the packaging is great  -------------
|
Posted By: akamaisondufromage
Date Posted: February 16 2014 at 18:09
|
Except the 5th is a compilation (though a pretty good one) ------------- Help me I'm falling! |
Posted By: Kentucky_Hawkwindage
Date Posted: February 16 2014 at 18:45
| All i know is i've been a huge Hawkwind fan for several years now.I admit i discovered them later in my life,luckily i discovered King Crimson & Atomic Rooster at about the same time.Once i thought nothing existed but Black Sabbath,Blue Oyster Cult,Deep Purple,Dio,Rainbow,Bad Company etc.Anyway back to Hawkwind.The first song i heard of theirs was Master Of The Universe and i instantly knew i had found something that was missing in my life.I've been hooked ever since.I do prefer the "Lemmy" era LPs.Calvert & later era's took awhile to grow on me but i enjoy most all of it now.I've moved Hawkwind to the top of my list of favorite bands. |
Posted By: Jzrk
Date Posted: March 17 2014 at 21:38
|
I had one album back in the 70's Warrior On The Edge Of Time which I liked a lot.Then my music tastes changed and forgot about them.Coming here has re peaked my interest in then and now going back to discover their whole catalogue.
I was able to listen to Space Ritual and like it.I have been drawn into the whole space rock thing now and notice a lot of bands influenced by them. Have to go into the cosmos now............. |
Posted By: KingCrInuYasha
Date Posted: March 17 2014 at 22:02
|
I have In Search Of Space, Space Ritual, Hall Of The Mountain Grill (which I stared out with) and Warrior At The Edge Of Time. Delightfully trippy stuff. Also, is it me, or were Lemmy's song contributions ("Lost Johnny", "The Watcher", "Motorhead") kind of mediocre? They weren't terrible, there were just underwhelming compared to his bandmates. It wasn't until he overhauled them for Motörhead's first album that they went from "meh" to "Holy  , these songs rule!"------------- He looks at this world and wants it all... so he strikes, like Thunderball! |
Posted By: dr prog
Date Posted: March 18 2014 at 17:02
|
Robert Calvert was the genius. When he took charge they produced some real quality. Astounding is awesome. The next 3 albums were solid. Robert rubbed off in brock and they produced the very good levitation. But i don't like them after this album really. I really don't like them before 1976. They sounded like amateur hard rock punk. Never rated music involving Lemmy. ------------- All I like is prog related bands beginning late 60's/early 70's. Their music from 1968 - 83 has the composition and sound which will never be beaten. Perfect blend of jazz, classical, folk and rock. |
Posted By: 2dogs
Date Posted: March 19 2014 at 01:33
| In the late 70s I was very keen on sci fi, Black Sabbath and punk - Hawkwind's albums from In Search Of Space through to Warrior On The Edge fitted in perfectly. |
Posted By: sean
Date Posted: March 19 2014 at 12:18
|
I'm still a relative newcomer, only being familiar with "In Search of Space" and "Space Ritual". I love what I hear, it's just that their albums are rather arduous to find around here. I've been meaning to get my hands on copies of "Hall of the Mountain Grill" and "Warrior on the Edge of Time", as those are the two I tend to hear the most positive things about |
Posted By: King Lerxst
Date Posted: April 09 2014 at 17:37
| Hawkwind seem to be a band that people either love or hate...if they know them at all. My first exposure was seeing the Hall of the Mountain Grill album sleeve in a store when it was first released and that imagery has stayed with me ever since. It took me another 30 years to delve deep into their catalogue but I am now a huge fan. One thing that hurts their legacy though is the huge number of poor quality recordings marketed by various labels. Some are just awful. |
Posted By: brainstormer
Date Posted: April 09 2014 at 23:18
|
Hawkwind and Magma seem to be the only bands that have been consistant in quality in a 40 year or more career. Not that I'm a Hawkwind die hard fan, nor do I like a lot of the drug championing some of the offshoots of HW seem to be doing (as well as not into that side of Gong). Maybe the attitude some people have to Hawkwind and HW's humble attitude shows why they have been able to get at the top of their game for about 40 years. ------------- -- Robert Pearson Regenerative Music http://www.regenerativemusic.net Telical Books http://www.telicalbooks.com ParaMind Brainstorming Software http://www.paramind.net |
Posted By: tszirmay
Date Posted: April 10 2014 at 01:19
|
My guilty Hawkwind pleasure within a 21 album collection (no compilations!) is
not even under the Hawkwind banner but a legal off-shoot (for all intended
purpose, more of the same) named Hawklords. “25 Years On” is a special album
for me, I really not know why, it just as a cachet a charm that I got from the
get-go (I did see the Wind live, that life changing Lemmy event!). Robert Calvert
shiningly excels on all songs, seducingly inspirational on “Only the Dead
Dreams of the Cold War kids” (such a brilliant title) , the wispy and
intense “The Age of the Microman” , its
close cousin , the wily and twirly ‘Freefall’ , add some amazing Gong-like
silliness with “Flying Doctor” and then,
finally show some balls with the anthemic and punky ‘The Only Ones” . These 4
tracks really give me a package deal of vintage Hawk splendour, space like you
could one dream of, though I have many other tracks to adore, littering their
voluminous discography. I also love the murky sound, it somehow gives the
production even more vaporous sheen. ------------- I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth. |
Posted By: Rihanna
Date Posted: April 10 2014 at 02:55
| I have never herd of the band, can you recommend a song or two? |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: April 10 2014 at 04:01
| 'Freefall' is an amazing tune from the Hawklords album. Always love 'Flying Doctor' as well. |
Posted By: Daysbetween
Date Posted: April 10 2014 at 04:35
| I have been a fan since 1972 and they just kinda fit for me at that time as I was reading a lot of science fiction having read everything by Moorcock and was in the process of getting to know the Golden Age classics. The Hawks have been one of the few constants in my life since that first encounter and I have all their output since then and saw them live over 30 times including the Space Ritual tour & Stonehenge in the early 80's. Sadly not all of their albums are consistent but I always find some tunes to love. The constant rehashes can be annoying but I'll accept the latest for Huw Lloyd Langton's final contribution. |
Posted By: brainstormer
Date Posted: April 10 2014 at 21:21
I like that one, too. I agree it's special. Calvert is wonderful on that album. ------------- -- Robert Pearson Regenerative Music http://www.regenerativemusic.net Telical Books http://www.telicalbooks.com ParaMind Brainstorming Software http://www.paramind.net |
Posted By: brainstormer
Date Posted: April 10 2014 at 21:27
I am thinking of the live Hawklords CD. Not sure if this is the one you are talking about as I no longer have it. It had a great version of High Rise on it. ------------- -- Robert Pearson Regenerative Music http://www.regenerativemusic.net Telical Books http://www.telicalbooks.com ParaMind Brainstorming Software http://www.paramind.net |
Posted By: The Mystical
Date Posted: April 11 2014 at 22:30
Yeah, I too love that album. ------------- I am currently digging: Hawkwind, Rare Bird, Gong, Tangerine Dream, Khan, Iron Butterfly, and all things canterbury and hard-psych. I also love jazz! Please drop me a message with album suggestions. |
Posted By: Drumstruck
Date Posted: July 15 2014 at 22:20
|
Also was a Hawkwind fan through much of the '70s - up to "Warrior...." and a few songs on "Astounding..." then they seemed to lose the plot a bit.... Out of the blue, I was lucky enough to see them last year - maybe their first tour to Australia? and have been listening again. Teepee was a pleasant "rediscovery" - getting back to their older sound maybe.... ISOS and Warrior remain my favourites. Some of the offshoots were good too - Captain Lockheed was very good, and Sphinxitintoday had some interesting parts.
|
Posted By: Stereolab
Date Posted: July 17 2014 at 00:02
| "Space Ritual" is still a top-10 desert island (double) disc for me. And Moorcock has always been one of my favorite authors. They really occupy a difficult place, not really here nor there in the prog and space/psychedelic rock communities. I will have to dig up some of the German bands people are claiming that sound like them. (Name me some of those bands?) |
Posted By: Stool Man
Date Posted: December 02 2014 at 14:15
|
http://dangerousminds.net/content/uploads/images/hawkwind_tarot_FULL_large.jpg" rel="nofollow - Galactic Tarot 1971 ------------- rotten hound of the burnie crew |
Posted By: LearsFool
Date Posted: December 02 2014 at 14:33
Looks awesome! Do you know where/what that's from?
|
Posted By: akamaisondufromage
Date Posted: December 02 2014 at 14:57
|
dangerousminds.net/comments/hawkwinds_galactic_tarot_deck_1971 ------------- Help me I'm falling! |
Posted By: LearsFool
Date Posted: December 02 2014 at 15:16
Thanks.
|
Posted By: Drumstruck
Date Posted: December 02 2014 at 15:40
I can't name any German bands that sound much like Hawkwind but perhaps these are worth a listen: - Amon Duul II ("Wolf City" and "Carnival in Babylon") - Frame ("Frame of Mind") - Nektar ("Down to Earth" with Bob Calvert and "Live at the Roundhouse") try also (Danish band?) Culpeper's Orchard (self-titled) - one of my favourite albums still
|
Posted By: TODDLER
Date Posted: December 02 2014 at 20:31
| I read the book Steppenwolf , Herman Hesse years ago and then later discovered that Hawkwind had recorded a song relating to the story. My favorite version though ..is from Adrian Wagner's Distances Between Us. It's more of an electronic version and very creepy. Robert Calvert held my interest because of his many stories written around the dark subject of what was going to happen to the world in the future. |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: December 03 2014 at 03:04
|
I always think that In Search Of Space is their most 'Krauty' sounding album. Maybe coz of Dave Anderson. My personal picks from 33 Hawk LP's I have are : In Search Of Space Warrior At The Edge Of Time Levitation Chronicle Of The Black Sword Electric Tepee It Is The Business Of The Future..... Blood Of The Earth .......and live favourites : Stonehenge - Do Not Panic Live Chronicles Palace Springs Business Trip Live Love In Space The early 80's 'RCA' albums are quite interesting too - particularly Church Of Hawkwind. Anyone into Nik T's latest album 'Space Gypsy' ?? A mighty album it is. This one takes me back to their Warrior period. He's got a really good band together along with guests Steve Hillage and Simon House. |
Posted By: Toaster Mantis
Date Posted: December 03 2014 at 05:14
|
How many other experimental rock groups of their generations have their own tarot deck? I'd love to see what Magma's would look like... or Blue Öyster Cult's for that matter. ------------- "The past is not some static being, it is not a previous present, nor a present that has passed away; the past has its own dynamic being which is constantly renewed and renewing." - Claire Colebrook |
Posted By: TODDLER
Date Posted: December 03 2014 at 12:48
|
1999 tour party was thought to be good. Hawkwind and Man toured together on this and when they entered Philadelphia to play the Tower Theater or The Spectrum...which is it?...they were widely advertised through the radio and many kids from my town saw the show and returned with buttons displaying the logo of the Hawkwind/Man 1999 Tour Party. This event took place in 1974. Dave Brock was asked how he came up with the idea to form Hawkwind and he responded like this: "Well, I heard a Pink Floyd album once and a slide was moving up and down the neck of the guitar with lots of echo ...and I thought, if Pink Floyd can do it. so can I" Dave Brock always had a very even toned vocal style..sometimes like a Folk singer and he seemed to have a better vocal range or actual control over the pitch of his voice than any other member of Hawkwind that attempted singing. Bob Calvert was a decent singer , but sometimes during live performances, he struggled hitting notes. Although I sincerely claim that Bob Calvert was the best writer in Hawkwind. His writings are unique and he is a genius. The most amazing thing to me was how he placed all the uncomfortable words/lines into a song. He wrote the song, but was particularly amazing at naturally hearing where such unusual verbal expressions could fit perfectly. There's never been anyone in Hawkwind since his time that has come close to accomplishing that because they don't write like him or hear the things he was hearing. Hawkwind is still influenced by him, but only to a small degree. Michael Moorcock writing stories about Elric or even dating back to the WARRIOR album, always seems to place the instrumentation aspect to Hawkwind with a medieval vibe/style. Originally Moorcock's entry revolved around "Sonic Attack" from Space Ritual and Space Rock itself. Later stories like Warrior and the Elric series/volumes were transformed into concept albums. Chronicles Of The Black Sword tour was suppose to enter the U.S. , but further lack of interest from promoters said otherwise. I guess they just couldn't understand why the Hammersmith Odeon was packed with kids who were there to see fire-eaters, poets, dancers, and music.
|
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: December 03 2014 at 23:34
|
Eccentric folks can fit anything anywhere. And how premonatory was Calvert's album Test-Tube Concieved ?? The guy may have had some 'issues' (don't many of us ??), but he knew. He saw the future before it actually happened, no matter how ridiculous it sounded/seemed at the time. I do miss Bob. I'm sure he would've made a great friend of mine........ |
Posted By: tszirmay
Date Posted: December 04 2014 at 00:03
I feel the same way, he was prog's weirdest poet and a luminary mind though slightly warped , the WW1 goggles and some of the stories
.....He also fused space with a punky attitude (though thankfully not punk anti-musicianship!) . I would have loved to have along chat with him, over a nice Pommard and some snacks. ------------- I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth. |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: December 04 2014 at 00:08
| ^ Thomas, you wonderful human being........Calvert deserved every shred of the term 'visionary poet'.....and along with his words we had such a great voice too. He also adds that extra spark to Nektar's Down To Earth album. Not to mention Lucky Leif......... |
Posted By: tszirmay
Date Posted: December 04 2014 at 00:33
|
You are not too 'shabbsville' either, my good mate! My Hawkwind live experience changed me forever (yes it was Lemmy's very last gig before getting the Brock boot). But Calvert completely mesmerized me, as if the 2 drummers, Simon House, Stacia and Liquid Len wasn't enough! It took me 3 days to be able to listen to music again, after that thundering show at CEGEP Maisonneuve (rated by Montreal Jazz festival impressario Andre Menard as one of the best concerts ever in Montreal!) . Brrrrrrr! His solo albums are visionary as you so correctly stated, dealing with corporate infamy, medical corruption and a desensitized world. He remains one of my musical idols. ------------- I never post anything anywhere without doing more than basic research, often in depth. |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: December 04 2014 at 01:05
|
My one and only HAWKWIND gig was 2012, Billboard venue, Melbourne. It was AMAZING, and I have to admit that this fellow named Mr. Dibs, was just OUT-f**kING-STANDING. Both on bass, and vox. The 3 tunes I wished that they perform from Blood Of The Earth, they did !!!! I was (almost) wetting my pants..... Now I've loved the Hawks from my entry point of Warrior, back in 1989, fuelled with THC, and eventually amassed a super collection of their albums. Practically no 2 are the same, yet retain an overall spirit no other comes close to. I bought a Tee-Shirt that gig, wore it on a holiday in New Orleans, and some random busker dude said " I love your shirt, man "....... That alone stood testimony of this great band's legacy....... |
Posted By: Aussie-Byrd-Brother
Date Posted: December 04 2014 at 01:08
Was an awesome gig, eh Tom?! I still remember us yapping in the carpark afterwards for too long, and when we went to exit the complex, it had cancelled the payment because we'd stayed in there too long!  Do you have that kind of green logo tshirt as well?! I still wear it often, I frequently get a couple of knowing glances over it....Well, more so than I do when I wear the Gentle Giant or Neal Morse ones! 
|
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: December 04 2014 at 01:17
|
^ Yes Mike, all facts stand correct. You make me smile........I cherish that for eternity. Even when you tried to nab Howe's song-list at that Yes gig in 2004 (or thereabouts....). Damn bouncer-dude..... .....
|
Posted By: Aussie-Byrd-Brother
Date Posted: December 04 2014 at 01:25
I don't remember the set-list bit, tell me!! Can't be any worse than my efforts at the first Goblin gig! I (like a total prog geek!) had lugged along one or two of my Goblin LP's (`Roller' and `Brittanico') in the hope of getting the band to sign them, as had a few others. A rep for the band had come out and spoken to us and told us she'll come back in a minute and collect all our stuff to take to the band, but this puny security guard (seriously, I was twice his size!) was getting really agro with us waiting, and I said to him `Just relax pal, she'll be back in a second....or go f**k yourself, whichever works best..." - and THANK GOD at that exact moment she came back and collected our LP's! Not my finest moment, but hey - signed Goblin LP's!
|
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: December 04 2014 at 01:29
|
Hey, my sister remembers well, too.......you Prog-nutter.....
|
Posted By: Aussie-Byrd-Brother
Date Posted: December 04 2014 at 01:32
|
I hope your sister is well, mate, always thought so highly of her. Well, you know, both of you! Yes, I think tempers were strained at the Yes show, after the `Sebastian Hardie' incident!
|
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: December 04 2014 at 01:37
| Now you recall...... I am so pissed to this day, as is my sis, Rob, that they pulled the plug on SH right at the climax of Openings...........I do admit that I was more blown away by Sebastian than Yes....... |
Posted By: Aussie-Byrd-Brother
Date Posted: December 04 2014 at 01:48
Yeah, same here, totally agree. SH's Mario Millo, absolutely aiming for the skies with the grandest of majestic electric guitar solos, and then the roadie kicked the plug on their power. I swear, it was like watching a guy about to climax with his woman and then having his manhood severed altogether! Hmmmm, sorry, that's a little graphic! But it was definitely karma that the Yes set was plagued with sound problems. Remember Skeletor, er, I mean Howe cracking the sh*ts during his acoustic spot?!  ***** I wonder if we'll ever get Hawkwind out here again? I really wish Gong and Daevid Allen (if he were currently well enough) would play some Australian shows. Apparently Tangerine Dream are possibly coming back again next year...so SOME acts think Australia is worth playing. |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: December 04 2014 at 02:00
|
Oh, that's so amusing what you said of that record fair vendor and Daevid's son....... ....was is Tally or Orlando..........?? I'm sure they met the cockpit pixie ......... More than thrice ...
|
Posted By: Davesax1965
Date Posted: December 04 2014 at 02:17
|
I have been a massive Hawkwind fan since the mid 1970's. However. Hawkwind started out as a fantastic, novel and utterly different band. Then - after 1976 or so, they sold out and produced lazy, predictable, boring music. Now they're just Dave Brock's retirement fund. ------------- |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: December 04 2014 at 02:20
| ^ That's harsh, but I can see where you're coming from - heard many folk state this very ideal. |
Posted By: Aussie-Byrd-Brother
Date Posted: December 04 2014 at 02:25
|
I actually thought `Blood of the Earth' and `Onward' were very impressive and consistently strong modern albums from the group. Sure, the band has had many inconsistent and frustrating releases, but there's almost a couple of killer tracks on all their albums. |
Posted By: Davesax1965
Date Posted: December 04 2014 at 02:30
|
Hi Tom, put on Space Ritual. Earth calling, born to go etc. Then put on Choose your Masques. You wouldn't think it was the same band.... you'd be right. Someone once said that Space Ritual was all you needed in a Hawkwind collection. I rate everything up to and including Quark, Strangeness and Charm. The rest is not a "people's band" doing "weird space rock", it's a collection of aging sell outs releasing the same old tired, formulaic rubbish again and again to people who are too stoned to notice. Harsh.... but true. Alas. ------------- |
Posted By: Davesax1965
Date Posted: December 04 2014 at 02:54
|
As a PS. My last album was massively influenced by Hawkwind / Tangerine Dream. https://brotherhoodofthemachine.bandcamp.com/album/trip-hazard Hawkwind are often cited as being a highly influential band by UK musicians - especially John Lydon. They were also labelled as the "godfathers of punk", basically because of the energy they played with. However. When you look at the discography, Hawkwind were *not* innovative. They merely reflected the tastes of the day - they actually were a commercial venture right from the start and a lot of the "anti-music" stuff is just propaganda. For example, the first album is a reflection of the psychedelic era. It then becomes more krautrock in nature... proper krautrock albums were difficult to find in the UK in the early 1970's (and most were better than Hawkwind's imitations.) By 1979 and the rise of Bloody Heavy Metal, the band were releasing shockingly bad albums such as "Live 79". They just followed trends. Part of the Hawkwind mythology is that they did a lot of drugs. I've been to Hawkwind conventions and yep, I can tell you now that they certainly did. However. The sad old stories about them being utterly out of their minds have been somewhat beefed up..... you can't play at all when you're that wasted. Mind you, listen to "Bring me the head of Yuri Gagarin" at some point. It's a bootleg which shows what Hawkwind were really like for a lot of early 70's gigs. Terrible. ;-) ------------- |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: December 04 2014 at 02:57
|
Oh dear - those comments render something as magical as Electric Tepee as next to useless....?? I love what they stood for, all those years ago, and being 42, I hardly know exactly what it is/was they stood for, but I perceive the spirit of it all as I do..... Anyway, Brockvaleays led his fellow space-cadets down many unknown and adventurous alleyways, so I can only accept their amazing space-rock as its presented. |
Posted By: Davesax1965
Date Posted: December 04 2014 at 03:19
|
Oh dear, Electric Teepee. ;-) Hi Tom, just think, at the time, the "underground scene" in the UK involves kids with dreadlocks, baggy jumpers and dogs on bits of string all pretending to anarchically wreck the system. So Hawkwind brought an album out which would pander to their fantasies. When you look at it like that, it all gets a bit "commercial" rather than "music / art", doesn't it ? Now, I'd have no problems with a band being commercial, but Hawkwind always sold themselves as some kind of Peoples Band, playing free gigs, supporting good causes, didn't they ? So it all becomes very hypocritical. Hawkwind will probably keep on going after Dave Brock kicks the bucket, because... it's a brand name. They just don't know when to stop, which really should have been around PXR5. The fans / fanatics hang on because nothing sounds exactly the same, and a proportion think they're "underground" in some kind of proto-terroristic (I refer you to Urban Guerilla Bob Calvert) anti- establishment, edge of music manner. The band are about as underground, musically innovative and anti-establishment as an old people's home. They are now propped up by those who are too stoned/lazy/hidebound to care. What a sad, but inevitable, end. ------------- |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: December 04 2014 at 03:33
|
My answer to all that - Pink Fairies - Never Never Land...... Approaching it from my 'brain-fried' perception, I appreciate their output, even if its worlds away from their roots. Please, allow me that much.....
|
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: December 04 2014 at 03:34
| Oh, we still have the Ozrics, when all is said and done, Ozrics come to the rescue..... |
Posted By: Davesax1965
Date Posted: December 04 2014 at 03:43
|
If only, Tom. Didn't they make £1.5 million in about three years - by, er, playing music that would sell ? Rather than playing music ? ;-) Non commercial music is much harder to find than everyone thinks. Outside of Germany in about 1968, I should think. This is why I tend to like the modern music scene. You will occasionally come across a few people who genuinely want to do something different and aren't bothered about money. Me, for example. ;-) ------------- |
Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: December 04 2014 at 03:50
|
There always an element of risk when dabbling with non-commercial avenues. Even something like 'The Residents' are almost commercial in their approach to being 'anti-commercial'..... Perhaps any album that flops is really a successful non-commercial offering.... |