THE AMBIENT ANARCHISTS

Yet another Hawkwind compilation, this one released in 1997 with tracks mostly from the 80`s & 90`s. For younger listeners Hawkwind, as a result of numerous squables with record companies and line-up changes which lead to the band being heavily anthologized since it`s inception in 1969, the band can be a difficult band to follow Chronologically. Updated versions of songs add to this confusion.

However, The Ambient Anarchists provides a good synopsis of the band during the 1979-1997 era. Thankfully, here you get all original album versions of Hawkwind`s spaced out themes and sounds with a few exceptions. A long time Hawk Fan by the time this album was released in`97, I snapped it up right away for these reasons. A rarity appears on the album in the form of an alternate version of Sonic Attack narrarated by sci-fi / fantasy writer Michael Moorcock who collaborated with the band periodically both as a performer and writer since the early `70s. I have no idea where this came from and have not heard it anywhere except on this excellent compilation.

The notorious omission from this collection is anything from Chronicle of the Black Sword album from 1985 perhaps due to recording rights. Hawkwind`s music in the 80`s & 90`s sort of returned to the heavier edge it had on albums of the early `70s after mellowing out on 1976`s "Astounding Sounds, Amazing Music " up to 1980`s "Levitation" album which regained the heavier approach and only four tracks from this period are to be found here. Another track from 1975 appears here in the form of Motorhead for which Lemmy`s band was named after once he got sacked from Hawkwind that year. It doesn`t really fit in and should have been placed at the end of the album sequence as a bonus track along with a live version of Urban Guerrilla which also dates from the early`70s.

This is perhaps the least confusing compilation of Hawkwind music and a good spring board for the new listener which wiil invite exploration into their earlier `70s stuff. 3½ stars for a ( finally) well done semi-comprehensible Hawkwind anthology.