PALACE SPRINGS

For me, "Palace springs" is one of the Hawkwind greats, sitting alongside their more illustrious early albums.

Unusually, the band employ a female lead vocalist on several of the tracks, including the classic opener, "Back in the Box". The track is a typical Hawkwind ice breaker, with a heavy driving beat, and a great melody. The female vocals immediately distinguish it from other similar tracks by the band, but it is classic Hawkwind nonetheless.

"Treadmill" is slightly lighter, with some good violin (is this band adaptable or what?). Then come two sensational tracks, which appear to be listed the wrong way round. "Lives of Great men" comes first (Lyrically anyway), linking into "Void of Golden light" to form a great 10 minute piece. "Void.." has a superb section where the music softens to a relaxing ambient wash reminiscent of Tangerine Dream, before crashing back in with screaming synthesisers which soar gracefully before settling slowly back down to a soft conclusion, pure magic.

The other classic track here is "Damnation Alley", very much in the vein of "Motorway City" and all the other thumping Hawkwind rock tracks.

The only real weak spot on the album is "Acid test", which starts weird, and although it mutates, it doesn't really improve. That aside, a great album, very accessible, and melodic, but with all the Hawkwind trademarks intact.

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