Doremi Fasol Latido (1972)
---2006
'Brainstorm' is such a classic riff, it's to space rock what Black Sabbath's 'Iron Man' is to heavy metal. I think Hawkwind has influenced as many bands as Genesis has. There are very few bands in the space rock field that don’t have at least some tieback to the mighty Hawks. One aspect of Hawkwind that I think is lost when summarizing, is the copious amount of acoustic guitar led tracks. Four bonus tracks in line with the more straight ahead rock side of the group.
---6/18/25
Warrior on the Edge of Time (1975)
As I will probably state in every review about Hawkwind, they really aren't a band I crave listening time with. For the most part they tend to create a wall of sound and improvise from there. Warrior on the Edge of Time is probably their most well-crafted album, though again there isn't much here that is memorable. But it is oddly engaging while listening. The opening 'Assault and Battery' / 'The Golden Void' are often pointed out by fans as some of their finest compositions ever. 'Opa-Loka' could be lifted off a Krautrock album with its motorik beat. And 'Magnu' is classic In Search of Space styled Hawkwind. The addition of trippy narration works well on an album such as this. Finale 'Kings of Speed' sounds like an emasculated 'Ace of Spades', a formula bassist Lemmy would later perfect and capitalize on. Speaking of Lemmy, this was the album they booted him off from, tired of his druggy unpredictable ways. Not one to be slowed down, he launched his next band Bastard. He was later convinced that name wasn't going to make it anywhere, and renamed it to Motorhead, his last song contribution to Hawkwind. Which also found its way onto this CD too. Warrior on the Edge of Time is an excellent album, about as good at it gets for the psychedelic warlords. Speaking of which, can you believe leader Dave Brock is now 81 - and he's still playing live?Ownership: 2013 Atomhenge (CD). Digipak with copious historical liner notes and photos. Includes the one bonus track as noted above.
Space Ritual (1973)
Hawkwind (1970)
It all starts here for Dave Brock and company. There are traces of their blues rock past along with a clear fixation for late 1960s Pink Floyd. Hawkwind will never be accused of being great songwriters, and that's true here as well. And they're also pretty sloppy, which is part of the allure honestly. A legendary band that earns that status, but in the oddest manner. The CD includes four relevant bonus tracksOwnership: 2010 Liberty Japan (CD). Papersleeve with four bonus tracks.
This was one of their albums I originally acquired in college, and helped define their sound to me. Hawkwind's third effort isn't that much different from everything I wrote below. Their stock-in-trade is driving space rock, and with Doremi they may have achieved their perfection of the formula. 'Brainstorm' is a great high energy opener with an excellent riff and many effects applied. 'Time We Left This World Today' is a superb change-of-pace psychedelic funk track. In retrospect it's hard to imagine a time when Hawkwind would actually be popular. They didn't have the romance or the coolness of Pink Floyd, for example. These guys were rough, raw, stinky, and scruffy. Yet they indeed were just that, popular. Overall, in my top 3 of Hawkwind albums I'd submit.
The CD adds their 1973 SP Urban Guerilla / Brainbox Pollution, a more straightforward punk approach than the album proper. Also includes the single version of 'Lord of Light', though not the B) side of 'Born to Go'. Final bonus is 'Ejection' which was unreleased prior. Very much in line with 'Urban Guerilla'.
Ownership: 2001 EMI Europe (CD). Extensive, and incomprehensible, liner notes with four bonus tracks.
1986 (first acquired); 2004; 2006 (review); 6/18/25 (update)
As I will probably state in every review about Hawkwind, they really aren't a band I crave listening time with. For the most part they tend to create a wall of sound and improvise from there. Warrior on the Edge of Time is probably their most well-crafted album, though again there isn't much here that is memorable. But it is oddly engaging while listening. The opening 'Assault and Battery' / 'The Golden Void' are often pointed out by fans as some of their finest compositions ever. 'Opa-Loka' could be lifted off a Krautrock album with its motorik beat. And 'Magnu' is classic In Search of Space styled Hawkwind. The addition of trippy narration works well on an album such as this. Finale 'Kings of Speed' sounds like an emasculated 'Ace of Spades', a formula bassist Lemmy would later perfect and capitalize on. Speaking of Lemmy, this was the album they booted him off from, tired of his druggy unpredictable ways. Not one to be slowed down, he launched his next band Bastard. He was later convinced that name wasn't going to make it anywhere, and renamed it to Motorhead, his last song contribution to Hawkwind. Which also found its way onto this CD too. Warrior on the Edge of Time is an excellent album, about as good at it gets for the psychedelic warlords. Speaking of which, can you believe leader Dave Brock is now 81 - and he's still playing live?Ownership: 2013 Atomhenge (CD). Digipak with copious historical liner notes and photos. Includes the one bonus track as noted above.
6/25/13 (acquired); 11/16/22 (review)
Space Ritual (1973)
Hawkwind is a band that I was first turned onto in late college, by a mutual Philosophy student / friend (I minored in Philosophy and History, much to the chagrin of my Engineering professors who thought it a waste of time - best thing I ever did in college!). I have to say that while I've always enjoyed Hawkwind, they were never a favorite, or anything I feel a huge urge to listen to. The first album I bought, and remains my favorite by them, would be In Search of Space. Believe it or not, I have never owned Space Ritual until now. I would often see it in the used bins in Lubbock during this time, always in terrible shape and not cheap either. My buddy back then played it for me, but it didn't move the needle enough for me to pursue. Now we move forward some 35 years later. I dedicated one evening listening session to it, and my initial impression of Hawkwind, and this album, holds tight. Basically they produce a wall of sound with guitar chords, saxophone noises, synthesizer swooshes, and mumbling vocals. The only guy it seems that is working hard is Lemmy, using his bass to drive the music forward. Their songwriting is almost non-existent. The two tracks that stand out, seem to be the same two tracks that always stand out: 'Master of the Universe' and 'Brainstorm'. '7 by 7' should also receive mention, and their best "song" 'Silver Machine' isn't to be found here. Gong would take this formula to much more interesting heights soon after. And in the late 80s, Ozric Tentacles took the sound to its logical conclusion, with many followers tagging along. Hawkwind are to be commended for being pioneers, but they aren't really my kind of space rock. Of course I'm keeping this, if for nothing else than to consider the incredible six panel poster cover. A lot folks sing the praises of this reissue for sound quality. I'll take them at their word.
Ownership: 2016 Parlophone UK (LP)
3/18/21 (acquired / review)
It all starts here for Dave Brock and company. There are traces of their blues rock past along with a clear fixation for late 1960s Pink Floyd. Hawkwind will never be accused of being great songwriters, and that's true here as well. And they're also pretty sloppy, which is part of the allure honestly. A legendary band that earns that status, but in the oddest manner. The CD includes four relevant bonus tracksOwnership: 2010 Liberty Japan (CD). Papersleeve with four bonus tracks.
1992 (first acquired); 2/1/21 (review)
Other albums I own and need to review: In Search of Space; Hall of the Mountain Grill
2/1/21 (new entry)
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