HALL OF THE MOUNTAIN GRILL

Hawkwind??. Now here is a band that changed hands more than the players changed their shorts. It was a revolving door and there were only a few players that stayed common, especially Dave Brock. I first started listening to this band in the late 70's when I graduated from high school back in my Haze Dayz, ifyouknowhatimean. I heard parts of the first 3 albums and they had their moments of greatness. Hawkwind is like early Floyd on steroids. Space, the final frontier is their place of residence. This band is meant to be heard on a good stereo or back then quad system while you are just sitting and hanging out in your mental 'nothing box' (that's when you really are not thinking about anything at all; guys know this better than women!).

When I heard this album, it defined who the band is at their best. It is my all time favorite by the band and the next album, "Warrior On The Edge Of Time" is number 2. On this album, there is not a weak track at all. From start to finish it is a wonderful journey into prog fantasy. "Psychedelic Warlords" is a great start with a fast beat. This band knows how to use a mellotron to its fullest and on this record it soars. "Winds Of Change" is a great little instrumental almost like a ballad with an organ, mellotron and violin. It conjures up emotions which is the essence of prog and is what lured me to this genre as my favorite type of music. The entire record is an emotional journey. "D Rider" is a space fest with the pulsing synths. I love the first half of "Web Weavers" as it surrounds you when you drop on a pair of good headphones.

"You'd better Believe It" is pure space music when it starts with the violin. I had never heard anyone do that with that instrument before. I remember sitting in my car a bit zoned out on top of a view of downtown Spokane Washington at night and listened to that intro over and over. That being said, a true measure of good prog music is that you do not need to have mind altering substances to truly enjoy it and since I have not been there in that zone since I was in my early 20's and I love this record to this day I would have to say it stands the test of time and substance! The title track has nothing to do with grills or halls but it is a good little instrumental track and would be the only spot on the album that is less than thrilling. "Lost Johnny" is a good tune that prods along; it is in ways a change of scenery on the album. "Goat Willow" like the title track is just a little instrumental jam. The finale "Paradox" is a great song with the vocals far off in the left and right channels and not in the center and the mellotron is in its usual place and strong. It turns into an emotional soaring instrumental and in the end it quiets down and makes a gentle exit.

If you are new to Hawkwind, this is the best place to start but be warned: If you start here, everything else will be second best with this band. IMHO. It does not have any of the poetry reading but I was never much for that anyway.... Except in the case of "Sonic Attack." I give it a RARE full high 5.