IN YOUR AREA

I think that it was opening song "Brainstorm" had turned into a reggae number that I first started to think to myself, "What the hell has happened to Hawkwind?" I remember seeing them in concert in the early Eighties and being blown away by their power. "Brainstorm" is a Nik Turner classic, and such deserves some respect, surely? Yes, I know that bands have to move and not stand still, but if they don't respect something why bother with it at all? My feelings about the whole album were somewhat clouded after that which is a shame as I like Hawkwind. This album contains six live and eight new studio songs, although it doesn't say when it was recorded. As well as the inevitable Dave Brock, the rest of the band now comprises Richard Chadwick, Ron Tree, Jerry Richards, Capt. Rizz and Crum. The introduction to "Love In Space" sounds as if it belongs on 'Dark Side Of The Moon' instead of an album of the band that gave us 'Quark, Strangeness & Charm'.

Thank heavens it turns into a definitive 'Wind rocker with swirling keyboards and driving guitars. This is one of the few songs which features Dave on vocals, and one of only three that he wrote with no co-writers, so perhaps it is no surprise that it comes across eventually as true Hawkwind.

The album fluctuates dramatically, with some songs coming across well, while others are just sad reflections of what Hawkwind once were. One for fans only I'm afraid.

Feedback #58, May 2000