X IN SEARCH OF SPACE

Even though 'X in Search of Space' was only Hawkwind's 2nd album, the band was already experiencing the curse of the revolving door on the band members. Most of this had to do with the use (and even non-use) of drugs. Trying to explain the personnel changes is way too confusing. However, the change in the band's style and music is the most important thing to pay attention to on this album. This sophomore album would bring more attention to the band especially in the UK and send them on their way to establishing their sound and style. This album is a very important step in the creation of a new sub-genre, that being space rock. It is based mostly around extended jams with the lyrics and melodies coming in around it all.

Though the album does not show the band quite at its peak yet, it is a huge step in the right direction. Even so, I do prefer the debut album to this one even if it is further away from the direction that the band would take. However, it is still and enjoyable album and one can't deny it's importance. It also marks the time when their most famous bass player Lemmy would join the band. Even though he is not on he original album, he was made a member of the band right after the album was released and he does appear on all three bonus tracks on the 1996 remastered CD version of the album. Owning the version of the remastered album is worth considering as the bonus tracks are all quite strong and fit right in well with the rest of the album even if they are a bit heavier than the other tracks and less jam- centric.

You Shouldn't Do That - This is a fifteen minute long space jam that shows the band using krautrock, psychedelic and space rock influences right from the beginning of the album. Right away, the listener will notice the difference between this album (which would also mark where the band would go with it's sound forever more) and the previous one. No blues influence is apparent here. The long jam never changes the key and even barely changes chords except for some sections that do some quick chord changes. The vocals are quite garbled and there is a repeated chant that sounds off over and over while the undecipherable and somewhat monotone singing goes on. But for the most part, this is quite a nice, spacey foray and would create the niche that Hawkwind would create and stay in for the rest of its long life.

You Know You're Only Dreaming - Dave Brock, the main force behind Hawkwind, has stated that The Steve Miller Band was a big influence on him. Of course, he was talking about Steve Miller's psychedelic years, the years that most of the public don't know about. This track takes inspiration from Miller's crazy psych tune 'Jackson-Kent Blues' by using the main riff and retaining the tone of the song, heavy and totally unlike anything Miller would become famous for in later years. The vocals this time are quite a bit clearer, and the spooky descending background 'ooooooo's are straight from Miller's song, along with a lot of the psychedelic effects in the guitar. Interestingly enough, this is less progressive than Steve Miller's own song as it melts into another one-chord krautrock style jam. Nik Turner's saxophone and flute effects push the instrumental section forward.

Master of the Universe - Nik Turner does the lead vocals on this one, the only track on the album that has a space theme. The lyrics follow the belief that humans are the central most important being in the universe. The verses are separated by a guitar riff which the rest of the band builds off of. Synth and treated sax give it all a kooky, spacey feel during the long instrumental section. The band breaks a bit more away from the single chord jam this time around by utilizing a simple ascending chord progression based off of the main riff.

We Took the Wrong Step Years Ago - This is the first track to stay under 5 minutes. The verse sections are accompanied by a 12 string acoustic guitar while the synths play out their usual spacey effects. The melody is much more accessible than most of the music on the album.

Adjust Me - This is an instrumental track taken from a jam session.

Children of the Sun - Another short acoustic guitar-led song with some electric embellishments towards the end.

The 1996 remastered CD would also include three more tracks:

Seven By Seven - This one is a non-album b-side that was recorded a little bit later as are all of the bonus tracks. The riff for this track comes from another band called 'Leviathan' called 'Flames'. This one has some warbly, spooky sounding synths. Robert Calvert, who would work more extensively with the band on subsequent albums, guests on vocals and also, by the time of the recording of all three of the bonus tracks, Lemmy (later of Motorhead fame) plays bass and Simon King has also replaced Terry Ollis on drums and plays on all three of the bonus tracks. It's actually a pretty good track and the playing seems much tighter here especially in the last half of the track.

Silver Machine - This is the A-side to the previous bonus track and features Lemmy on the lead vocals. This one is also a non-album track. Though the single was unheard of in North America, it actually did a decent job in the UK and generated enough money to completely fund the band's third album. The guitar is quite heavy in this track, as could be expected, and the effects are very prominent throughout.

Born to Go - This bonus track is also a non-album track recorded live. This particular version is an edit which was used on a single. This does a swell job of portraying the heaviness of the band when playing live.

Though it's not their best album, it is the most important step that the band would take in their history establishing their sound which would create and influence many space rock bands that would follow in its wake. Hawkwind would continue to experience turbulence in the band line-ups and this would be a curse to them through their history, but the band would continue to grow so that by their next album 'Doremi Fasol Latido' they would be making important and essential space prog.