BLOOD OF THE EARTH

Forty (!) years are gone after their debut, but guitarist and vocalist Dave Brock still manage to have Hawkwind alive and ... spacey. I am far not a best expert on their music, and am familiar mostly with their earliest albums (incl. Lemmy's period).

Their new release attracted my attention mostly because of my interest to hear how did they changed during all these decades. Before I started listening, I was ready to all possible surprises.

But to be honest main surprise for me was the band still could play good music! It's far not the same psychedelic dreary spacey endless jamming, but competent and very modern spacey prog without loosing its roots.

Album contains more song-oriented compositions, no long jams, but it is not radio -friendly product. Songs have better organised structure, and main musical attraction is clever use of spacey electronic effects in combination with keyboards and guitars sound. No way revolutionary changed music, it is enough modernised to sound as product of XXI century, not a re-release from the vaults.

The only song I am not happy at all on this album is keyboards-based AORish "Sweet Obsession". All other compositions are competent, sounds fresh and not boring. Yes, this release will be more interested to Hawkwind old fans (even if not everyone of them possibly will be happy with the sound). But for me some new elements added in band's music, are only for good. They refreshed the sound without changing music radically.

Not a masterpiece, but very competent album from old school band. Interesting and pleasant to listen.

My rating is 3+