QUARK, STRANGENESS AND CHARM

Hawkwind

Psychedelic/Space Rock

3.69 | 255 ratings

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ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer

I can understand that some early "Hawkwind" fans (which I wasn't) have some difficulties to cope with such an album.

But there is no wonder. This album was released in 77and is fully new wave oriented. The closer relationship I can think of is "Ultravox!". Especially the vocal part during the excellent opener "Spirit Of The Age" is so close to the one of John's one (Foxx). The use of some violin only adds to the comparison. A highlight.

And this atmosphere is going on with the ultra energetic "Damnation Alley". Unlike most reviewers might feel, this period (77-79) was quite interesting in my musical life, and concerts were such a lot of fun. So, yes : "Damnation" is a damn good track. If ever I should say something bad about it, it, the only thing I could think of would be that it is a bit longish, but that's all.

This album is pretty much similar to their previous one ("Astounding Sounds"). The good old rock "Quark." has the same great mood as "Kerb Crawler". Rock'n'roll, man! Quark, Strangeness And Charm. (or The Wild, The Beautiful & The Damned...).

Heavy "Oriental" rock with "Hassan I Sahba", is somewhat lost in this work but again, the energy felt in here is very much welcome. Not a great track (too repetitive), but so unexpected and original! But three minutes of it, would have been enough (instead of over five).

"The Forge Of Vulcan" is the only spacey moment of this record, just a confirmation that the band was changing from orientation (but this is not really new). "Days Of The Underground" brings us back again in the "Ultravox!" territories. On the contrary of some other tracks, I would have liked the band to develop it a bit more, but since the instrumental closing number starts as "Days" ends, it can be seen as a (short) continuation.

As "Astounding Sounds", this album certainly deserves three stars but probably not four. Seven out of ten.

ZowieZiggy | 3/5 | 2008-4-6

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