IN YOUR AREA

Experimentation is a funny thing. You can't predict what's going to happen. Which is precisely why it's called "an experiment". Few bands are as willing and eager to experiment as Hawkwind, and In Your Area presents them in that mode, tossing in reggae and Jamaican dancehall elements, lush ambiance and other things, alongside their usual mix of surging guitars and electronic whirr. Does it work? That depends on your tolerance for exploration. Most of the cuts contain a variety of styles, textures and time changes, which at times flow seamlessly together and at others feel patched together and haphazard. Couple that with the fact that it mixes live and studio cuts, and features a track listing that doesn't match up with the music, and you've got a real crazy quilt that's difficult to get a grip on. But if you can accept these foibles, you might find the experimenting often pays off. I like this disc a lot and return to it frequently. There's a lot of power here. So you can't follow track listing? So what. It's the music that matters. If you need your Hawkwind to stay close to the band's expected sound and vibe, then this album probably isn't for you. But if you enjoy following the band down their sonic detours, you'll find plenty to like here. In Your Area may not be an essential touchstone to be proudly displayed upon the mantle, and perhaps is more like an interesting curio that one might ogle for a moment before placing it back on the shelf and moving on. And that's just fine with me.