SPACE SHANTY

How great is this to hear Steve Hillage and Dave Stewart so early in their careers, before Steve's solo stuff and GONG, and Dave before he was with HATFIELD AND THE NORTH and NATIONAL HEALTH.This was Steve's project and he needed a keyboard player so he asked Dave who was in the band EGG at the time. Great to hear Nick Greenwood as well on bass and vocals. Nick's solo album "Cold Cuts" which would be recorded after this album is fantastic. "Space Shanty" is one of those albums that I keep coming back to. I love how it sounds. It's one of those very special records that I have in my collection. The vocals, guitar and organ are all just right.

The first song "Space Shanty" is surprisingly heavy early, almost like a blend of HAWKWIND and BLACK SABBATH. That changes after a minute then keys and guitar follow as drums continue with bass. It picks up before 3 1/2 minutes in with some fuzz organ then again a minute later with aggressive guitar. Nice. It's psychedelic after 5 minutes then back to the earlier theme with keys and guitar after 6 1/2 minutes. Vocals are back after 8 minutes with acoustic guitar, then we get a big finish. What a song ! "Stranded" opens with keys and strummed guitar. It picks up before a minute with bass, distorted organ and drums.The vocals and piano melodies are a joy here. A feel good song if there ever was one. It picks up 3 minutes in with fuzz organ in tow. Tasteful guitar 4 minutes in as themes are repeated. A pastoral ending.

"Mixed Up Man Of The Mountains" opens beautifully with gentle guitar melodies as reserved vocals come in.This reminds me of BLIND FAITH. It then kicks in with organ and guitar. A calm 2 minutes in before it kicks back in before 3 minutes in a jazzy way. Some great guitar after 5 minutes. "Driving To Amsterdam" is a jazzy tune with a good tempo until it settles 2 minutes in with vocals. Some ripping guitar after 3 minutes. Contrasts continue. I like the drumming and fuzz organ around 5 minutes. It turns jazzy again then the fuzz returns.Themes are repeated. "Stargazers" has this guitar / organ / drum melody early that sounds great. Vocals follow. Pulsating organ comes in.The tempo keeps shifting, some lazy guitar 2 minutes in then the organ returns. Fuzz before 4 1/2 minutes then it kicks in with some killer guitar. "Hollow Stone" is laid back to open as fragile vocals come in. It gets fuller as drums and organ join in. Fuzz organ after 3 1/2 minutes. It's heavier 6 minutes in as Steve comes in to light it up to then end.

The singing on this record is terrific and fits the music very well, as a matter of fact I can't find anything that I don't like about this album. A classic !