HAWKWIND
Psychedelic Selection (Cherry Red)
Hawkwind has always been a revolving door of musicians, and space-rock veteran and founder member Dave Brock is back with a 15-song album showcasing the band’s current line-up. Musically, it’s difficult to fault this latest offering, but I found myself questioning why Psychedelic Selection needed to exist.
Sides one and two consist primarily of reworkings of classic songs such as Hurry On Sundown – the last recording made with late guitarist Huw Lloyd-Langton – and The Demented Man from the album Warrior On The Edge Of Time. This is where the Psychedelic Selections falls short. The phrase ‘if it ain’t broke, why fix it?’ springs to mind, and these reworkings sent me running back to the originals.
It isn’t until side three that the album truly comes into its own, with a collection of dynamic new tracks that capture the spirit of Hawkwind at their best – including the standout Goonhilly Downs, a heavy, hypnotic instrumental, and Oceans Spiral, with its jazzy piano. With original material of this quality, it begs the question: why did the band need to revisit old ground at all?
words LYNDA NASH
