DAVE BROCK

Hawkwind albums are rarely, with a few glorious exceptions, solid and spectacular from start to finish. Most times I find that the albums sort of disjointed. There are always brilliant stuff but there's also quite alot of, what I consider to be, fillers. I love Hawkwind but still, I cannot say I love all of their music.

Having said that I believe that Dave Brock, the one who has been steering the Hawk for so many years, is a true genius. That is especially true when it comes to the more ambient and electronic side of Hawkwind. Before I bore you to death with this introduction, I think that this album, alongside a handful of others, are really excellent and solid Hawkwind.

Why Hawkwind? Isn't Dave Brock a musician in his own right? Bloody right, he is! But on this album of demos and oddities, really, lies the embryos of several Hawkwind recordings. Being overwhelmed by the might of Hawkwind I find these to be ever so interesting.

The songs later "covered" by Hawkwind are very interesting. "Assassination" is one of the most evocative and interesting songs. Later put on "Church of Hawkwind" and named "Some people never die", we get a longer and I think superior version. The combination of actual broadcasts from when Lee Harvey Oswald and Robert Kennedy was assassinated and electronic, fierce and harsh, music makes for a surreal and highly intense piece. This is one of the most dramatic pieces of music I have ever heard. "Green finned demon" is another track later "covered" by Hawkwind. Slightly more electronic it is quite mellow, almost narrative in some way. Great track.

The remaining tracks are all of the highest quality. "Now is the winter of our discontent" is similar to "Assassinations" by way of music over narratives. Taken from the Shakespeare play Richard III it is equally dramatic, almost furious in execution. "Spirits" is an eerie instrumental, as is "Machine dream". The track "Sweet obsession" I had trouble with at first but now I love it, just as is the case with "On the case". Both are sort of poppy tracks but really good. Bound by time, perhaps, but still good.

I consider this album to be great, genial even, almost all the way through. Repetative? Why, yes. But in a good way, though. Despite being almost loopy at times, the album keeps my interest at the highest level, giving me a fantastic trip through the ambient space of Dave Brock.

I am keen to give this album five stars but realise that it is probably not fair. However, this album has become a favorite of mine and it has not left my ears, or mind for that matter, for a really long time. I think it deserves to be acknowledged and appreciated by a wider audience. I think that lovers of prog and electronica could find a whole lot to take to their hearts and bossoms. Great stuff from a great man.

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.

Well, you can probably guess what's going on to be written here, because I've just reviewed two albums that makes this compilation (so see proper reviews in each album's page please) and so what to do here ? We can talk. Because I quite liked first one and not so much second, we get ourselves to rating mark

3(-), of course decreased by the fact that this is compilation. Don't go for this one (you can, you are free to, but if you were me [and you are not], you wouldn't go for it [yes, this is variation of "if I were you..."], capiche?), it don't bring anything new, except few bonus tracks that aren't so interesting.

Let me ask one important question. How the hell is it possible to have one album (first) so great (well, not perfect, but at least quite good) and second, following one so terrible. It is supposed to explore new frontiers, incorporate new sounds and interesting ideas, but instead ends in Pet Shop Boys like talking (not singing), reminding child's playground and if you though that melodies from previous album were repetitive and overly electronic, beware of this album, as this is dawn of new era (which quickly ended, fortunately) that wants to be heard. No, this is too much for good old Marty. He may be good at some things, but singing isn't one of these things.

2(+), it can be listened, even it's hard. Sorry this time.

Just look on this picture, what a beautiful album cover it is. However, we're in 80's and so it changes, it influences, it corrupts, but it also helps to develop certain mature kind of sounds, even simplified by era where it was born. This album is like vision of stoner, but I don't feel like it's repeating itself over and over (like some Psychedelic efforts does), more like managing to create living, organic world. However, this "electronic" element (or elements) that are present in many songs (most prominently Earthed to the Ground and Spirits). It's a weird mix of Psych sounds from decade that I though nobody was releasing good albums (in 50% of cases at least). But this is interesting enough to sound average, but feeling you get from it is so good that I must increase my rating to

4(-), because sometimes you just want to dream. Nope, seriously, this album can offer you quite pleasant Psychedelic/electronic Prog. Maybe some will question its Progness, but I'll leave it to others, I'm happy with what I hear and am sure it can stand the tsunami. It can.

'Strange Trips & Pipe Dreams' is made up by relatively short songs but full of repetitive textures though. HAWKWIND core member Dave Brock plays all the instruments by himself. Synthesizer and guitars are caring for the dominant spacey vibe. A bunch of samples is used with the result of some really weird contributions. Furthermore you will detect typical narrations, instead of vocals which are only sparingly used and a surprising rhythm/drum work. This may have the reason that Dave Brock is not a drummer by nature but I think he's rather referring to krautrock bands like the early Kraftwerk or Can by intent.

This is immediately confirmed by the opener Hearing Aid Test provided with a simple tribal rhythm which sounds electronically made. Dave Brock's spacey guitar is appearing soon backed by some decent organ impressions. Weird samples are announcing the transition to the next song initiated by a repetitive narration explaining the White Zone - excellent flow with ambient synth patterns and a guitar solo on top of it. Space is a really nice melodic but also experimental one - maybe one can say with ballad character combining acoustic/electric guitars and crazy synth additions - this time even showing vocals.

A melancholic loop is dominating Pipe Dream coming from the synthesizer only - simple but amazing anyhow - followed by the short Self which initiates a way out direction now. A jazzy piano surprises on Somethings Going On and an industrial repetitive texture coupled with digeridoo impressions! This is reflecting the transition to the weird Bosnia - the album's core track I would say. Dave Brock is obviously pointing to current problems according human relationship here - the horrable development on the Balkans.

An innocent folksy start with acoustic guitar - but then a dark mooded organ appears, military marching drums, gun fire, crazy laughs, exploding bombs and narrations - arranged in a way which leaves you impressed, no question. Parasites Are Here On Earth is moving on in a somewhat attacking mood, nearly aggressive as for the guitars for example. The drums have a hypnotic krautrocked fundament. Who is meant exactly with the title? That would be interesting to know or everyone is asked to choose his own enemy!? No vocals except a narration repeating the song title for some times.

'Strange Trips & Pipe Dreams' seems to be a well thought out album title because of the proportion of crazy elements and the reflection of an ugly situation around the world - the quarrel in Bosnia taking place in the mid 1990s. 'It's never too late' - and it's also confronting us with some dreams and hope. Dave Brock can convince even when he acts separated from his HAWKWIND origin. As for the concept and the presentation with a really unique result this one is deserving four stars in the whole.