LIVE CHRONICLES

I have yet to find an eighties studio album by Hawkwind that I like, after being disappointed by the Chronicles of the Black Sword album. Luckily there is this double live album of eighties Hawkwind that saves the decade for me.

With a great slightly electronic twin guitar metal sound - reminding me a bit of Somewhere in Time - era Iron Maiden - the band succeeds to greatly improve on their eighties repertoire. Furthermore, guitarist Huw Lloyd- Langton stands out as the best solist the band has ever had. I just wonder why he sounds so different in the studio. I already loved the sound of band live, but he really brings the music to another level with fast en melodic solo's. The rest of the band plays the songs well and the vocals are simple, punk-like and enthusiastic. Not pitch perfect, but legit when cruising in this spacey environment. The synths are great. No ugly eighties synths, just legit uplifting space bathing material. Nothing too intelligent, just great sounding and an enrichment of the songs and overall live feel.

The song selection is interesting because of its selection of eighties tracks, mostly from their then latest Black Sword album. Some good riffs and catchy refrains. My favorite trait of a Hawkwind live album is continuity of the music. Between the songs we hear electronic interludes and 'narrations' and it really creates opportunity to just dream off into space. On the second disc the song selection is a bit weaker, but I would have given the first disc alone five stars.

I would warmly recommend this record to listeners of space rock, eighties metal, jam bands and symphonic rock. One of my favorite Hawkwind live albums. Also check out Love in Space!

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