EARTHED TO THE GROUND

HAWKWIND guitarist, vocalist, synth-twiddler, mainstay, instigator, visionary, mastermind (all those things) DAVE BROCK, had his debut solo album, 'Earthed To The Ground', released during 1984 on the collector's label Flicknife Records. It was " recorded at home while waiting for Hawkwind to get going again " 1980/81/82/83 !! The songs on this album, whilst still firmly space-oriented, psychedelicised electronic rock-music, shows Brock embracing 80's sensibilities all the way, which is apparent from the long-ish, synthetic groove of the opening title-track. Very trance-like with an almost disco undertone, analogue drum-machines and emphasis on synths. Some tracks appeared remixed and instrumentally augmented on future Hawkwind projects - Green Finned Demon being a classic example, here just a floating synth piece with vocals and guitar. It appeared on the Earth Ritual Preview E.P. with a 'fuller' band treatment. Assassination was included on the Church of Hawkwind LP re-titled 'Some People Never Die'. Spirits features a synth-pop beat with hypnotic synth melodies and sounds. Very nice. Much is the case for the 2nd side - Sweet Obsession is direly commercial (for Brock standards anyway) and recently appeared on the late Hawkwind album 'Blood of the Earth' with very little improvement though. Oscillations is a short tune with a catchy melody and vocals, more throbbing synths on Machine Dream and Now Is The Winter Of Our Discontent, and another longer, repetitive cut to finish things off with On The Case. This is clearly the work of an individual, as opposed to a collective, but the crux of this album is just how crucial Brock is to Hawkwind. A good record with a very attractive John Coulthart artwork, but nothing too spectacular. 3 stars.