TAKE ME TO YOUR FUTURE

This is a strange release, it is not a proper album insofar the band admit its a collection of old and new, nevertheless it is a Hawkwind release and one that every Hawkwind fan should have in their collection.

I will only review the Cd aspect (this is a dual disc CD/DVD).

The album kicks off with a valid re-working of Uncle Sams on Mars, and whereas I do prefer Robert Calverts vocals (this first apperard on PXR5) as he has passed on this is the way the band perform the song now and it showcases some epic guitar work over the top of a repetitive percussive beat.

The next track does feature the voice of Robert Calvert recieting his Poem S,all Boy (The Swing) whilst the band lay down a blissfull backing track (This is from a forthcoming Brock/Calvert album). The music sweeps over you in a dreamy feeling.

Reality of Poverty is a prog rock classic featuring excellent vocals from both Dave Brock and Arthur Brown, I would love to see this performed live as it really is a classic, it builds and builds until the coda which is a synth/keyboard sequence with jazzy overtones.

Ode To A Time Flower follows and again is from the Brock/Calvert project. They have played this live and to me it did not work in the mayhem of a Hawkwind concert but hear on CD, we can hear Robert Calvert reciting his poem with a techno prog backing track. I am looking forward to this Brock/Calvert project release as it will be interesting.

The final track is a reworking of Silver Machine which mixes the original with new spacey 21st century sounds, and it works really well ending with a cajun sound!

Overall a good album, the band are showing that today they are till relevant and till progressing when many bands of today are only too happy to either go AOR or re-hash what was done better in the 70s!

ONWARDS FLIES THE HAWK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

An interesting release for Hawkfans, this is basically a promo cd/dvd containing tracks from their forthcoming album and dvd releases with a few extra rarities therein, an essential item for completionists, but saying that does not detract from some amazing music!

AUDIO SEQUENCE There is some strong material on the album if you are into latter-day Hawkwind - driving beats awash with synthesisers and processed vocals. The first track "Uncle Sam's On Mars" an "exclusive" track fits this description perfectly, though still with the unmistakeable hallmarks of their traditional driving sound - "hope you've got your credit card with you" for this sonic trip into space, but "is there any life out there" - well there certainly is now, space heads! "Small Boy (The Swing) " is to be included on the next Brock/Calvert Project according to the insert notes, starts with an excellent ringing piano overlaid with bass heavy synthesisers snaking around the spoken vocals, the sound quality here is awesome, filling the room with sound. If this is indicative of the material on the new project i'm really looking forward to hearing the new music! "The Reality of Poverty" is another exclusive track sounding like traditional Hawkwind, the song commenting on social/political issues, "so many people, so many mouths to feed", a common issue still extremely prevalent today unfortunately. "Ode To A Time Flower " is another track from the forthcoming Project, fast rhythmic synthesisers over spoken vocals, "your calyx hides a nectary of time that with my fingers I could pluck as easily as sounding strings to recite their chime.....". Another exclusive "21st Century remix" of classic song "Silver Machine" ??? This sounded good but didn't really work for me i'm afraid - so many versions abound.

VIDEO SEQUENCE The "flip-side" of the disc contains some interesting footage. Loathe as I am to view music dvd's due to the variable sound quality they provide (would rather save the money for live shows), "Utopia" is the best item on here for me - shot in a live studio the picture and sound quality is really good, and brings you very close to the band in action. The other most interesting footage within a mixture of bits and pieces on the disc is of the girls in 1996 practising their dance routines in the midday sun, more of this material is available to "Passport holders only" from Hawkwind's fan club. Overall some interesting items for fans, the "Assassins of Allah" 2005 video (filmed from a fixed camera behind the audience) is a taster which gives you some idea what their live show should look like, a space trip I am looking forward to experiencing very soon!