ANTHOLOGY VOL 1

This anthology would certainly be appealing to Hawkwind fans who like to collect live versions as well as outtakes from this prolific cult band, but it is not bad as an introduction to their raw spacey sound. The live setting only accentuates their endearingly amateurish approach, and their ability to set a mood. Sure the rhythm guitar riffing is overdone and makes us wonder when another chord will be added to the repertoire, but there is nothing pretentious about Hawkwind. This is sci fi music for those who read sci fi books. "High Rise", "Spirit of the Age", "Whose (sic) gonna win the war", and of course "Silver Machine" all convey a lot more humanity than a host of better known names could do in a whole career, perhaps more because of their rudimentary nature than in spite of it. "British Tribal Music" and "Ghost Dance" reveal that Hawkwind couldn't quite grasp the electronic trance genre though, notwithstanding the brilliant title of the former. I'm not sure how easily obtained this weird compilation might be, but it is recommended to those who want a first or a thirtieth taste of Hawkwind.