Hawkwind - Epoch Eclipse

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(EMI)

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Review: Graham Reid

This is a single-disc compilation culled from the 30th anniversary box set of material by these remarkably durable space-rockers who formed back in 1969 and have been through countless line-up changes since. The sole constant has been Dave Brock.

Their most famous hit, Silver Machine (1972) these days sounds little more than boogie rock on acid and with lots of whooshy noises (which is exactly what it was, come to think of it) although it tellingly gets a remix at the end by KLF's Jimmy Cauty which brings them into the contemporary world of trip-hop and dance.

Hawkwind's longevity can be attributed to their out-of-this-cosmos quotient, free-jazz improvisation (they made it up as they went along) and simple riffing which nailed down their most fanciful of musical flights.

Oh, and that whooshy noise stuff which lifts the top off well-prepared heads.

Of course, they occasionally fall into that old Spinal Tap trap of taking themselves too seriously (Michael Moorcock's lyrics on Sonic Attack sound kinda silly) but when they rock out (Psychedelic Warlords, Lemmy's song Motorhead, Night of the Hawks) they are an awesome beast.

They play Auckland this weekend, so here's your primer if their career these past three decades has somehow passed you by.