SPACE RITUAL

Judging from my reviews of Hawkwind's 1970-1974 studio albums you would hardly believe I'm a fan. But of course I am. It's just that being a fan doesn't mean you have to succumb to blind devotion.

When it comes to selecting essential Hawkwind albums I would nominate Warrior On The Edge Of Time for their more symphonic/melodic style and this live Space Ritual for their harder rock 'n' rolling incarnation. It is a thunderous document where Hawkwind's powerful space-drone is only interrupted for equally fuzzed poetry. I could live without it, but not without the excellent performances of Hawkwind's early classics here. Next to an almost entire and very accomplished rendition of their defining Doremi Fasol Latido album, they also storm through a number of non-album tracks like Born to Go, Orgone Accumulator, 7 By 7 and Upside Down. Particularly Down Through the Night, Lord of Light and 7 by 7 come highly recommended from this space cadet.

Hawkwind has always been a band that works best in a live setting and that is the exact reason why one of their live albums deserves such a high rating from me. I think they have better live albums then this one but I don't think there is a better document from their classic line up then this one.