X IN SEARCH OF SPACE

The great thing about In Search of Space is that Hawkwind have found their own spot in musical history. They stopped sounding like anybody else and reached an entrancing groove that was truly their own, a very original blend of 33% catchy strumming hard-rock, 33% improvisation and experimentation and 33% psychedelic essences. On this album they also retained some of their anarchistic kraut poise.

The not so great thing about it is that they still appear very insecure of what they're doing. As if they were all trying very hard not to play too loud in order not to get noticed. Suppose somebody could hear this? What would mom say?

Hawkwind lacked the confidence and oomph to pull off their ambitious space rock to optimal effect. Of course this is largely due to the production. Whoever was on the knobs here, he didn't know how to make this immense wall of sound come alive. A second reason would be that one more ingredient was missing in their space stew: they needed somebody to kick them out of their lethargy. That somebody would be Lemmy, who made his introduction on the forceful Silver Machine.

I'm a bit in doubt with my final verdict. I've never been entirely enthused by this album and it has never really grown on me. However, the re-mastered edition from 1996 has added 3 essential tracks to this package and sounds just a bit better. Given this is Hawkwind's most original statement it surely deserves 3.5 stars.