LIVE AT THE TERMINAL CAFE

I have no idea how many Moorcock books I read when I was a teenager, but it is safe to say it was lots! I was fascinated not only by the tales of Elric, but also Jerry Cornelius, and The Deep Fix was of course the fictional band he fronted. Moorcock released his debut album with Deep Fix as long ago as 1975, but it took until 2019 for the third to appear. His long friendship with Martin Stone (The Action/Mighty Baby, Savoy Brown, Chilli Willie) resulted in their decision to do an album together, based on Moorcock's 'Blood' trilogy. Those books are set in Texas and Louisiana, and the concept with the album is that this was recorded by the band at Terminal Cafe in Biloxi, Mississippi (as opposed to in a studio in Paris where it actually took place). Moorcock describes the album as 'our first psychedelic Country & Cajun record', and that is certainly an apt description. Given that musically he is usually associated with Hawkwind and various offshoots, this is hugely different indeed to anything he has ever done with Mr Brock!

Moorcock is seventy years old now, and that does affect the timbre of his voice at times, but in just in the way it adds additional gravitas. I am somewhat surprised hearing how strong his vocals are that we haven't had more music from him over the years, as when he applies the gravel on 'A Man Like Me' he shows he has far more in common with Dr. John than I would ever have imagined possible. This never sounds like the work of a man feted for his novels, short stories and magazines (it is incredible to think he was editing magazines at the age of 17 and publishing his own works at that time as well, no wonder he has been named as one of the most important English authors since the war), but instead someone who grew up on the bayou. The first time I played this I literally sat there with a smile on my face the whole way through as this is such a delight, and as soon as I finished it, I had to play it again!

Fans of this style of music are going to get a great deal from it, and I do wonder what Hawkwind completists are going to think when they put this on, as it is a long way from his work with that mighty band. It certainly wasn't what I expected to hear, but that surprise turned to pure delight.