4 Exploding Stars
As ever, original space rockers Hawkwind go where nobody has gone before, not because of any particular enterprise, but perhaps because they don’t care if everybody else just thinks they are off their collective rockers.
This is a science fiction concept album in support of the oppressed people of the planet earth. Does this sound a little pretentious to you? Well, it is, but I’m sure the boys have got their collective hearts in the right place.
The music starts off with the arrival of the flying saucer to abduct our hero away, to find out why the human race is so bent on self-destruction. This of course creates total confusion among the aliens, leading us into a wonderous journey through the music of Hawkwind as the earthling attempts to return to earth without blowing every bodies’ mind; what a journey it is.
After rejecting all things alien, we are whisked into ‘Blue Skin’ territory where the multiple layers of vocals, synths, keyboards, and wave sequencers soothe our worried brows before being propelled forward for more adventures.
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The hilarity of a song called ‘Beam Me Up’ (surely this is self-explanatory), and a meeting with the urban space dustbin man ‘Sputnik Stan’ (well presumably it’s a job that somebody will have to do in the future, good tips in space at Christmas I hope) we’re finally bought back to a festival where the first band on the stage are Hawkwind. So, the album finishes with the first three songs of Hawkwind’s live set from 1996, leaving you with the final song, ‘Are You Losing Your Mind,’ which couldn’t be more apt and has brought you full circle.
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Confused yet? You should be. If you’re not, you’ve obviously lost the plot and picked it up at the wrong spot.
This was a magnificent return to form by Hawkwind and is the first studio album to feature Ron Tree on vocals. In true Hawkwind fashion, he virtually takes over, dominating most of the songs before being fired by Captain Dave Brock the following year. Oh well, such is the life of a Hawklord. Bring back Nik Turner, I say.
If you want to go into cosmic interstellar overdrive and are never sure whether to wag your tail or your head, this is the album for you.
Musicians:
Dave Brock – Guitar, Vocals, Keyboards, Synths, FX
Alan Davey – Bass Guitar, Vocals, Synths, Wave sequencing, FX
Richard Chadwick – Drums, Percussion
Ron Tree – Vocals
5. Beam Me Up
6. Vega
7. Xenomorph
8. Journey
9. Sputnik Stan
Written by Mott The Dog from the space above Fletchers’ Folly on the Dark Side of Pattaya.
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