Hawkwind – We Are Looking In On You

7,692

5 Stars

*The artwork from Hawkwind’s new live album, Someone Is Looking In On You.*

Audio CD (paid link)

Here we go with another Hawkwind double live CD documenting the Hawkwind tour of 2021 chronicling the Insomnia album outings.

Not a complete live set, but handpicked highlights of various gigs.

Hawkwind now span seven decades. There has been a lot of highs and lows during this period; by the sounds of this live album another high period has arrived.

Dave Brock is the commander of spaceship Hawkwind. He has been at the helm since their formation in 1969. Over this time the captain has seen over fifty musicians come and go (some coming and going several times), thirty four studio albums (including two under the Hawkwind Light Orchestra banner), and countless actors, dancers, lighting technicians, etc. But when you feel the quality of these sonic numbers, you can’t help but feel that all the turmoil has been worthwhile. I for one did not expect to be giving another live album in 2022 a five star review.

Serving as first officer of the silver machine Hawkwind is Richard Chadwick on drums and vocals, who has been serving since 1988.

*The boys are here to entertain you. Hawkwind from left to right: *Richard Chadwick*, Dave Brock, Doug MacKinnon, Magnus Martin, and *Thighpaulsandra*.*

Magnus Martin, a talented multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and singer, has been in the ranks since 2016. His lead guitar work on these live cuts is up there with the best in the business.

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Then we have the latest bass guitar cadet, Doug MacKinno, since 2021 following a fine list of Hawknauts who play the driving low notes essential to the sound. His predecessors include Alan Davey, Mr. Dibs, Harvey Bainbridge, Haz Wheaton and of course most famously of all, Lemmy. But our Doug does a fine job in the live arena making his own footsteps.

New Hawker to the group, Thighpaulsandra, is the real find, holding down all the keyboard positions at once. This is an important role in the rocket ship, creating the actual Hawkwind sounds as well as driving the band towards the heavens with a wall of keyboard sound. The synthesizers have to warble and scream, and the audio generators have to replicate the sounds of flight, wind, bubbles and aliens. (Unless Captain Brock took an alien with him on this tour to fill the position.) All of which he does with the powers of a wizard. His piano playing in ‘Peace’ is lovely, whilst his keyboard solo in ‘Neurons’ is cosmic.

I for one would like to see this band stay together for at least a couple of studio albums.

On “We Are Looking In On You,” there is nearly two hours of space rock, some tracks from the very first album, then stretching over the entire space time continuum to 2021’s “Insomnia.” There are also plenty of snippets of Hawkwind deep cuts slammed into various numbers, something for the aficionado to listen out for.

The action starts with over ten minutes of ‘Magnu’ originally from Hawkwind’s classic album “Warrior On The Edge Of Time” (1975). This the band give a vicious shake, ripping out solos, harmonizing the vocals, and thrashing the rhythms, all belying Captain Brock’s 81 years. After this the band are away constantly hitting warp 11.

The second track in is ‘Cave Of Phantom Dreams’ recalling days of when Robert Calvert was in the band. Straight into another new track, the title track from the last album “Insomnia,” actually called “Unsomnia, live,” it’s a far more impressive beast than its studio relation. The driving rhythms of the band give the song extra live thump, abdabs and heebie-jeebies.

*Richard Chadwick under and lights and in the blue.*

After this we join ‘Uncle Sam’s on Mars’ for what could possibly be the definitive version of this song—really way out there man. It’s quite alarming that the political views in this song were written in the same year Margaret Thatcher came to power, and are as relevant now as they were then. Anyone for progress?

‘USB1’ shows another side to the good ship Hawkwind with its interwoven spacey tapestries, a continuation of Uncle Sam’s on Mars, also containing other space themes, all very clever.

Contributions from our valued guests can be found here. Highly recommended

Then a quick break in the sonic attack when Captain Brock enquires whether the audience would like a singsong, which they certainly do, as the band trip speedily into ‘Spirit Of The Age’. A highlight from the Robert Calvert years, it’s a song of the problems of love with androids. This is later followed by ‘Right To Decide’ from the pen of Robert Calvert, which is the Hawkwind song to get the crowd jigging about.

‘It’s Only a Dream’ is a future space classic for the live set, with its spacey effects, and well sung by the Captain with the band flying along in unison behind him. The wah wah playing from Magnus Martin is particularly admirable.

*Captain Dave Brock, probably already planning his next move. Watch this space.*

By now it’s time to flit over to the second disc, with the Hawkship roaring along, belting out classics and deep cuts with equal aplomb.

The title track of Hawkwind’s album from 1980, ‘Levitation’ being particularly space worthy, we are treated to a trance through ‘Brainstorm’ from Hawkwind’s second album “In Search Of Space” from 1971. This is pure high octane space waves being sonically blasted at you from phasers. Space headbangers delight.

‘Neurons’ takes off on another instrumentally dashing ride.

‘Hurry On Sundown’ from Dave Brock’s busking days still has a nice bounce to it.

‘Born To Go,’ one of the highlights/opening song on Hawkwind’s first double live album “The Space Ritual Alive” (1973), gets the all clear to land on the runway. When the whole band catch the riff, roaring away, you can’t help but go with them. Richard Chadwick hits the skins with animal power. Riffs from other Hawkwind songs are crammed into the music. Paranoia is led in by the bass.

‘Star Explorer’ is a heavy jam based around a banger of a riff, allowing the instrumentalists to show off their wares before reprising ‘Born To Go.’

‘Space Is Deep’ is nicely timed to bring some Hawkwind heritage to the set. Certainly the equal of any previous version.

Then, bizarrely, Hawkwind drop the planet. Tom Jones from a different multiverse beams in and the band break into a very loose version of ‘It’s Not Unusual!’ Quite fun for one listen, but tiresome after that. It’s a shame, as this album needs to be listened to on vinyl with top quality headphones. On vinyl of course it’s a lot more involved to skip a track. It’s not often CD is a preference for your listening pleasure. But it’s only three minutes long.

The Spacenauts finish in fine fashion with Lemmy’s ‘The Watcher’ bringing everything to a rockin’ almost heavy metal conclusion. Good old Lemmy.

All in all a fine addition to the Hawkwind canon.

The whole package has been wonderfully put together by those good folk at Cherry Red Records. They are an understanding record label and CD supplier. It’s worth having a good look through their catalogue at www.Cherryred.co.uk