GREEN

From the moment 'Sea Nature' drifts from your speakers you know you're in for a smooth ride through the cosmic ether - if there can be such a thing.. Anything is possible in the strange world of Steve Hillage, and 'Sea Nature' proves it. Layers of cosmic keyboards and spacey guitar form the base of what is an excellent song, and right in the thick of the punk era! Hillages voice has a Dave Brock quality to it, but without the tuning problems and druggy nasel congestion and his guitar playing is faultless.

It's easy to see what Ed Wynne of the ozric Tentacles was listening to as he grew up, when you hear the intro to 'Ether Ships'

There are running themes of nature, UFO's, and meditory contentment throughout 'Green' and there are no weak tracks as far as I'm concerned. The album glides from track to track, drawing you in further into Hillages 'green' world, and as I have learned in recent years, you DONT have to be stoned to enjoy this album...but arguably it helps..

Best tracks IMO, are 'Sea Nature' 'Musik of the Trees' and 'The Glorious OM Riff' The latter closes the album and is a real space rocker, with a fantastic riff. Hillage could often come up with classic riffs, simple but very effective. The riff for 'Salmon Song' on his album 'Fish Rising' springs to mind, although I reccomend more the version on 'Live Herald'

Despite being a lifelong Hawkwind fan, I've not paid much attention to 'Space Rock' generally. I discovered Hillage in my mid 20's, after I had lost interest in most things psychedelic, but Hillage managed to grab my attention nonethless. I'm glad he did. I've heard about 4 of his albums so far, and 'Green' remains my favourite.