PSYCHEDELIC WARLORDS

The Spaceship Hawkwind Blasts Off !

Perhaps the only band whose anthologies are worth reviewing given the confusion which has been created by the sheer volume of such releases that have appeared over the years. There are some excellent ones and others which can be dowright misleading and well, confusing. The reason for the massive output is that Hawkwind anthologies sell ! And the reason for the iconsistencies are the legal mazes that have followed the band since their inception.

This is arguably the most concise disc available which documents Hawkwind`s formative years from 1969-1972. It was done in association with Brian Tawn who ran Kadu Flyer, the Hawkwind newsletter for a number of years and I suspect he was also the compiler here so for this reason alone you can`t go wrong with this one. He also provides some excellent liner notes.

Psychedelic Warlords provides an excellent history of the band to 1972 as it traces their psychedelic origins as they morph into the prototypical sci-fi / fantasy space-rock band through the addition of sci-fi fantasy writer/poet Michael Moorcock. Although the tracks are not presented chonologically the track sequence really works here. In order to accomodate the time limitations of a 76 minute CD some single mixes are also to be heard but do not detract from the essence of the music.

Psychedelic Warlords brings us up to 1972 in the Hawkwind timeline after that it`s up to the individual to continue the voyage. ..3...2..1 ignition ! The Spaceship Hawkwind blasts off into time space and beyond.

As far as Hawkwind compilations go this one is actually very good and I have played this many times over the years before I indulged in getting a massive Hawkwind collection. Of course this album inspired me to get into the band in a more serious way so it has done its job. It is nothing more than a taster to see what the band can create and really in essence the album comp features some of the quintessential Hawkwind as well as some other delights rarely found on CD.

The essential songs are: Psychedelic Warlords (Brock) [single edit] Brainstorm (Turner) [from "Space Ritual"] Hurry on Sundown (Brock) [from "Hawkwind"] Silver Machine (Calvert/Brock) [original single mix] Down Through The Night (Brock) [from "Doremi Fasol Latido"] Mirror of Illusion (Brock) [from "Hawkwind"] Master of The Universe (Brock/Turner) [from "In Search of Space"]

The delights are: Paranoia Part II (Brock) [from "Hawkwind"] You Shouldn't Do That (Brock/Turner) (live) It's So Easy (Brock) [single b-side] Adjust Me (Hawkwind) [from "In Search of Space"] Brainbox Pollution (Brock) [single b-side]

The songs I would have left off: Urban Guerilla (Calvert/Brock) [original single mix]

Check it out and enjoy tasting Hawkwind and hopefully you will enjoy it enough to indulge in at least 10 of their best albums.