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ALAN DAVEY

Psychedelic/Space Rock • United Kingdom


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Alan Davey picture
Alan Davey biography
Born 11 September 1963 (Ipswich, UK)

ALAN DAVEY is a UK-based musician, first and foremost known for being the bass-player in legendary space rock outfit HAWKWIND in two periods, at first from 1984 - 1996, and then from 2000 - 2007.

When Davey left Hawkwind in 1996 it was du to musical constraints he felt he had in the band at that time. He started creating solo albums where he could follow his own muse to a greater extent, the first of these being "Captured Rotation" which was issued first time in 1996.

While working with his second solo production he also assembled a band of his own; and when "Bedouin" was issued as a solo album in 1997 it was also the tentative start of a career with the band of the same name; an outfit that eventually folded in 2003.

For his next creative venture outside of a band environment, Davey cooperated with long time associate Nigel Potter, Davey's cousin. They had formed an outfit called Gunslinger back in 1979, a project which was put on hold after Davey joined Hawkwind. The long time associates issued "Alien Heart" in 1998 as a one-off creation.

In 2000 Davey hooked up with Hawkwind again, but continued making solo albums as well. In 2000 this resulted in the release of "Chaos Delight", and in 2001 two more solo albums were released, "Al Chemical's Lysergic Orchestra" and "The Final Call".

The solo productions from Davey slowed down after this, partially due to joining Hawkwind again, but mostly because he got involved in two additional band projects from 2003. At this point in time his childhood band Gunslinger was revived; and he also joined black metal outfit Meads of Asphodel around this time.

It wasn't until 2007 that solo productions from Davey saw the light of day again, first with the release of the album "Human on the Outside", and in a flurry of releases from 2007 into 2008 four compilation albums with various demos he had recorded over the years was issued too, named "Four-Track Mind" Volumes 1-4 respectively.

In 2007 Davey left Hawkwind again, focusing his band activities with aforementioned outfits Gunslinger and Meads of Asphodel as well as Pre-Med, a more recent venture who issued their debut album in 2008. Davey's also involved in several other projects. The most tangible of these is the multi-national project Thunor, who mix space rock with jazz and metal and have an album set fo...
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ALAN DAVEY discography


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ALAN DAVEY top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.17 | 6 ratings
Captured Rotation
1996
3.36 | 5 ratings
Bedouin
1997
4.00 | 2 ratings
Alan Davey & Nigel Potter: Alien Heart
1998
3.17 | 5 ratings
Chaos Delight
2000
4.00 | 2 ratings
Al Chemical's Lysergic Orchestra
2001
4.00 | 2 ratings
The Final Call
2001
5.00 | 1 ratings
Human On The Outside
2007
4.50 | 2 ratings
Eclectic Devils
2009
4.00 | 2 ratings
Cyber Tooth
2012
5.00 | 1 ratings
Alan Davey's Bedouin: Time Is Made Of Gold
2019
4.38 | 10 ratings
Hawkestrel: The Future Is Us
2019
3.25 | 9 ratings
Hawkestrel: Pioneers of Space
2020
2.17 | 7 ratings
Hawkestrel: spaceXmas
2020

ALAN DAVEY Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.08 | 6 ratings
Alan Davey's Psychedelic Warlords: Hall Of The Mountain Grill
2019
4.00 | 3 ratings
Alan Davey's Psychedelic Warlords: Captain Lockheed & The Starfighters
2019

ALAN DAVEY Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

ALAN DAVEY Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

5.00 | 1 ratings
Four-Track Mind - Volume 1
2007
5.00 | 1 ratings
Four-Track Mind - Volume 2
2008
5.00 | 1 ratings
Four-Track Mind - Volume 3
2008
5.00 | 1 ratings
Four-Track Mind - Volume 4
2008
3.17 | 5 ratings
Hawkestrel: Presents Pre-Med
2020
3.10 | 2 ratings
Four Track Mind
2020

ALAN DAVEY Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

ALAN DAVEY Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Hawkestrel: spaceXmas by DAVEY, ALAN album cover Studio Album, 2020
2.17 | 7 ratings

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Hawkestrel: spaceXmas
Alan Davey Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by alainPP

2 stars HAWKESTREL extension of the HAWKWIND group; he has provided a good dozen albums in heterogeneous spatial orientations; this album explores the themes of the end-of-year holidays, there is no doubt that this pandemic has boosted the creative desires of this outstanding bassist and dabbler in all things musical.

Revamped songs like "We Three Kings", "O Come All Ye Faithful", "Little Drummer Boy", "Silent Night", "Oh Holy Night", "Jingle Bells" or "Hallelujah" for the pleasure of finding the original tune. Slightly crazy original compositions, Christmas spirit, such as "Twelve Daze Of Drinxmas" for the sylvan space rock side, without the obvious, slightly annoying kitsch side of the originals. A calm sound, titles without pretension other than having fun with rock-pop-folk; a sound that revisits that of HAWKWIND's original and its Germanic folk sounds on "it's A Wonderful (Funny Old) Life" or "Für Kirsty". Childish tunes with a POPOL VUH space sauce like on "Seasons"; a KRAFTWERK-style tune on "Ein Weihnachliches Lustobjekt"; a nervous, crazy, avant-garde sound like BOWIE on "Twelve Daze Of Drinxmas" and this fabulous cover by Léonard COHEN make this album the album to listen to during these holidays as jamming to any radio or television source.

Album composed during the summer months in the middle of the desert, this latest HAWKESTREL is a pure festive gem for ambient music.(2.5)

 Hawkestrel: Pioneers of Space by DAVEY, ALAN album cover Studio Album, 2020
3.25 | 9 ratings

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Hawkestrel: Pioneers of Space
Alan Davey Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by kev rowland
Special Collaborator Honorary Reviewer

3 stars Alan Davey continues his work on providing new forms of space rock with plenty of guests on this Hawkestrel's second album, released last year. Here we get a mix of covers and originals, and he has brought in many well-known musicians including Todd Rundgren, former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor, prog legend David Cross, electric violinist L. Shankar, Arthur Brown and MC5's Wayne Kramer. The lead single from the album was "Day Of The Quake", which is a revamp of a rare early '80s recording from Robert Calvert. Davey says, "This masterclass of English poetics gets married up to some up-tempo exciting music I wrote with the one and only Mick Taylor guesting on lead guitar and the legendary Nik Turner on sax."

Hawkwind have gone through one or two musicians, it must be said, and I think they have had 11 bassists since they were formed, but while Lemmy will always be the most famous, Davey has the longest tenure in that role (in two stints). While playing in a very different style to Lemmy, much more in the way of single notes as opposed to chords, his sound was always prominent and that is still the case here, so no matter who is playing or singing on each song (there is a listing of 20 others involved on this album), he is at the forefront and brings it all together. The result is something that fans of Hawkwind will enjoy, not only for so many luminaries being involved, but also as it is quite an enjoyable album. Tracks such as "Cosmic Divide" show the quieter elements of the band, with some gorgeous flute, while others are more jagged and harsh and yet others are full on space rock as we would expect. There is only one Nik Turner, and his sax stands out a mile when it is deployed.

Whereas one of his other outfits, Alan Davey's Psychedelic Warlords, are an actual band, Hawkestrel appears to be a project where he utilises old and new recordings. Consequently, this album features contributions from at least three musicians who are no longer with us, but overall, this is a pleasant listen and certainly stands up against some Hawkwind releases.

 Hawkestrel: spaceXmas by DAVEY, ALAN album cover Studio Album, 2020
2.17 | 7 ratings

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Hawkestrel: spaceXmas
Alan Davey Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by kev rowland
Special Collaborator Honorary Reviewer

2 stars Here is another which arrived too late for me to write about before Christmas and is the latest in a host of recordings which have been released by ex-Hawkwind bassist Alan Davey over the last couple of years. I have no real idea of the line-up, but apparently includes performances by Glenn Hughes, Rick Wakeman, Robby Krieger as well as Hawkwind alums Huw Lloyd-Langton, Nik Turner and others. There are a couple of issues with this, the first being that this sounds far more like a project than an album and is musically all over the place, and secondly while this may have seemed a good idea when everyone was drunk, they should have just walked away when they were sober. They take themselves way too seriously, and the result is something which falls between the camps of fun and missing the point altogether.

By far the best song is the last, and if they had performed the whole album like this, then it would have been a different story altogether. "Twelve Daze of Drinxmas" may be completely tongue in cheek and seen as a humorous ending, but at least here they are performing in traditional space rock style and it comes over incredibly well indeed! If they had bitten the bullet and performed "Hallelujah" like this as opposed to the manner in which they attempted it, I am sure I would have enjoyed it far more. This really is for fans only.

 Four Track Mind by DAVEY, ALAN album cover Boxset/Compilation, 2020
3.10 | 2 ratings

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Four Track Mind
Alan Davey Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by kev rowland
Special Collaborator Honorary Reviewer

3 stars Davey is going through a very busy period at present, as not content with his Hawkestrel project and re-releasing all the Pre-Med albums, here we find him curating a 4 CD set of demos he has recorded over the last 30+ years. Apparently this comes with a 12 age booklet with plenty of information on each of the songs, but I haven't seen it as I only have the music, but that background information will be fascinating so one can compare what of these have then made it to an album. I spotted a few songs which later appeared with Hawkwind, such as "Sword of the East" which was on 'The Xenon Codex', but for archivists like me it would be good to know what appeared where so one can compare the versions and see how they changed.

This is nearly five hours of material, much of it with no vocals, with Davey's distinctive Lemmy-style bass and lots of Hawkwind-style keyboards at play. Some of the numbers feel almost complete and could have been popped onto a 'wind album very easily, as although this is not exactly formulaic, they are mostly in a very similar style. Given they are demoes, it is little surprising that much of the drumming is undertaken by a machine, which is never going to find favour in my book, and there are times when the production isn't all it could be, but these were designed as a sketchbook as it were, before the final touches and flourishes were provided by a full band. There is no doubt that Hawkwind/ Davey fans are going to be very interested in this but for the casual listener this is just a little too much to take in all at once. But for fans, if the booklet provides the information as to where these songs originated from and where they progressed to, then this will be essential.

 Hawkestrel: Presents Pre-Med by DAVEY, ALAN album cover Boxset/Compilation, 2020
3.17 | 5 ratings

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Hawkestrel: Presents Pre-Med
Alan Davey Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by kev rowland
Special Collaborator Honorary Reviewer

3 stars This triple CD set is a compilation of the three Pre-Med albums, namely ''Medication Time' (2005), 'The Truth About Us' (2008) and 'Einstein's Day Off' (2013). The first two were released by Hawkwind Records while the last was a self- release. I presume they have now been reissued as being introduced by Hawkestrel as that band have been gaining some popularity and as Pre-Med were basically Alan Davey and Danny Faulkner, and Davey is the driving force behind Hawkestrel it allows the albums to get a new lease of life. Musically they totally fit in within the Hawkwind family space rock canon, and I for one am pleased to come across them now as I missed them first time around, albeit it does mean going through 2:42:46 minutes of music in one go!

Even though the three CDs were originally released at different times, with a gap of eight years between the first and last, this does work together as a set possibly because they have taken one band as their influence and stuck pretty close to that throughout. This is Hawkwind throughout, and when I think of some of the albums I was listening to of theirs back in the Nineties this is just as consistent and really quite enjoyable. Interestingly Davey was still with Hawkwind at the time of the first Pre-Med album, which would be released the same year as 'Take Me To Your Leader'.

While space rock for the most part, and Hawkwind for much of that, there are also times when it brings in some of the influences which Davey also used in Bedouin, and there are also plenty of the dance trance numbers which Hawkwind was producing around the same time. It is going to be of interest to fans of Hawkwind, not only for historical reasons but also because there is some interesting music on here, and while none of it is absolute classic 'wind there is more than enough material to satiate even the hardened fan. It comes packaged in a deluxe 8-panel digipak with retro sci-fi artwork plus a full booklet with liner notes and photos and is also the starting point for the next Pre-Med release. Davey says 'The new Pre-Med album has begun with original members Danny, Steve, Eamon and myself back in the circle. It'll be an emotional album and will touch your soul cause it's gonna be real. In the meantime, here's a great new anthology to get to know the amazing Pre-Med music!'

 Hawkestrel: The Future Is Us by DAVEY, ALAN album cover Studio Album, 2019
4.38 | 10 ratings

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Hawkestrel: The Future Is Us
Alan Davey Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by Progfan97402
Prog Reviewer

4 stars Hawkestral is a combinations of the words ""hawk" and "kestrel". with a name like that you're certain this is Hawkwind-related, and you're correct and this was an Alan Davey project involving many different Hawkwind members. I have a feeling this project took literally years to make given that Huw-Lloyd Langton and Lemmy are present and both passed away long before the album's release (Ginger Baker would leave us a couple months after The Future is Us was released). How is this? Well like a Hawkwind album, and surprisingly so given the total lack of Dave Brock's present (after all if Dave was present, it would have to be a Hawkwind album). It's certainly better than anything Hawkwind has done of recent, and I am really surprised. This album has some amazing stuff, for example, "Sea of Sand" with Bridget Wishart (she appeared on Space Bandits and Palace Springs) and Ginger Baker. I'm a bit surprised to find Ginger even agreeing to appear on some of the songs on this album given his cranky attitude and attitude towards music (look how he trashed Mick Jagger, Keith Moon and John Bonham and thinking that Cream should have been aborted since they've been called in the rock press "the forefathers of heavy metal"). Anyways an amazing Middle Eastern-influenced piece complete with oud (lute predecessor common in Arab, Turkish, and even Armenian and Greek music) and even some Berber chanting (which sounds like Native American chanting, which is not done by putting you hand over your mouth like on Saturday morning cartoons, but movement of the tongue while emitting a high-pitched sound). Berbers are native to Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya (even a bit of Egypt). Lyrically it's unsurprisingly Arabian Nights influenced, in this case Aladdin. It's nice to hear Bridget Wishart singing again, seeing she never stayed in the band for long (from 1989 to 1991). "Nyx of Chaos" features Nik Turner and Ginger Baker. Sounds like Nik was adopting a more jazz approach to his sax playing. I got a kick off the remake of "Sonic Attack" seeing none other than William Shatner narrate it. It's very difficult to keep a straight face hearing this version given his pompous approach seems downright comical. For one, I keep thinking of those Priceline ads where he butchered hit songs way back in 2000 (which was hardly a new thing he was doing, he did that as early as 1968 with his first album The Transformed Man with "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"). Also I was wondering if he was going to give us those trademark dramatic pauses here? He sure didn't disappoint. But what keeps this from a complete embarrassment is the trippy mood and electronic sound effects. "12-String Shuffle" with Huw-Lloyd Langton is a bit different seeing it's an instrumental bluesy piece. "Bad Boys for Life" features Lemmy and if most certainly sounds exactly like how Hawkwind would have sounded like if he never left the band. His bass playing and vocals are unmistakable. Apparently he recorded this song for a movie soundtrack to Sunset Society (from 2018, but obviously recorded before his death). I haven't heard that version, but the Hawkestral version is likely different, more Hawkwind-like. Highly recommended, even if you feel Hawkwind had lost it in recent years.
 Alan Davey's Psychedelic Warlords: Hall Of The Mountain Grill by DAVEY, ALAN album cover Live, 2019
4.08 | 6 ratings

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Alan Davey's Psychedelic Warlords: Hall Of The Mountain Grill
Alan Davey Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by kev rowland
Special Collaborator Honorary Reviewer

4 stars The first paragraph of this review is the same as that for 'Captain Lockheed & The Starfighters Live' but is worth repeating in case you haven't seen the other one. The Psychedelic Warlords were formed by ex-Hawkind bassist Alan Davey and named after the lead off track from Hawkwind's fifth album, 1974's 'Hall Of The Mountain Grill'. The band comprised singer Craig High, keyboard player Zoie Green, guitarist Simon Wilkins and drummer Billy Fleming (who worked as Motörhead's drum tech for 12 years). Apparently Lemmy told Davey that 'Hall of the Mountain Grill' was his favourite Hawkwind album, and as 2014 was seeing the fortieth anniversary Davey thought it would be a great idea to perform the album in its entirety as a tribute. Given that Robert Calvert's seminal 'Captain Lockheed and the Starfighters' was also released in 1974, and was a Hawkwind album in all but name, he decided to hold a concert where both albums would be performed in their entirety. The concert was recorded, and some five years later, was finally made available, and this section of the gig has now been released as 'Hall of the Mountain Grill Live (London 2014)'.

Every Hawkwind fan has the original album in their collection, battered from many years of being played to death. It is the classic album from the classic line-up of Dave Brock, Del Dettmar, Nik Turner, Simon House, Simon King and the one and only Lemmy. During his tenures with both Hawkwind (twice) and Hawklords, Davey would have played most of not all of these songs, some of them every night yet here he is able to provide us with his take on the full album. From the first notes of the songs from which this band have taken their name to the closing rumble of "Motorhead" (which wasn't on the album but is a fitting closer to the other nine), here we have a band who are determined to bring back those classic days. As always, the bass is front and centre, with the chords being riffed as if it was a rhythm guitar in trademark Lemmy style (strange to realise that Davey was in Hawkwind far longer than Lemmy himself).

"D-Rider" crunches, but it is when they really let rip on songs such as "You'd Better Believe It" that everyone comes to life. The sequencers are joined by the bass, then the hi hat, then the guitar, and all of a sudden, we are off, and it sounds like the rumble being created really is an engine going at full bore. This is a classic album being treated with respect and being blasted out to fans who are eagerly awaiting to be pummelled into submission. I remember seeing Hawkwind at an outdoor festival in 1982, and being amazed I had hearing problems afterwards given it was in a stadium (okay, so I was pinned against the railings at the front) and if I had been in London that night in 2014 I am sure I would have been deafened again and drenched in sweat. As with the other album, this is essential to any Hawkwind fans and all power to Davey and the label for them finally becoming available.

 Alan Davey's Psychedelic Warlords: Captain Lockheed & The Starfighters by DAVEY, ALAN album cover Live, 2019
4.00 | 3 ratings

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Alan Davey's Psychedelic Warlords: Captain Lockheed & The Starfighters
Alan Davey Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by kev rowland
Special Collaborator Honorary Reviewer

4 stars The Psychedelic Warlords were formed by ex-Hawkind bassist Alan Davey and named after the lead off track from Hawkwind's fifth album, 1974's 'Hall Of The Mountain Grill'. The band comprised singer Craig High, keyboard player Zoie Green, guitarist Simon Wilkins and drummer Billy Fleming (who worked as Motörhead's drum tech for 12 years). Apparently Lemmy told Davey that 'Hall of the Mountain Grill' was his favourite Hawkwind album, and as 2014 was seeing the fortieth anniversary Davey thought it would be a great idea to perform the album in its entirety as a tribute. Given that Robert Calvert's seminal 'Captain Lockheed and the Starfighters' was also released in 1974, and was a Hawkwind album in all but name, he decided to hold a concert where both albums would be performed in their entirety. The concert was recorded, and some five years later, was finally made available.

Although Davey didn't play on the original album, he spent many years in the mighty Hawkwind (and Hawklords) having to mimic Lemmy's bass playing (as well as also forming a Motörhead tribute band himself at one point), so perhaps it shouldn't be surprising that he knows exactly how to capture Lemmy's sound and approach. There are times when it seems like the man himself is there on the stage, and with that bass underpinning the songs this seems as if Hawkwind are back in their heyday. For any fan of the band this is essential listening, especially as so few of these songs have ever really bene played in concert, and I doubt if the album was ever played live in its entirety. It sounds like the original comic interludes have been retained, and it is a very English performance of a very English album (yes, I do know Davey is Welsh).

This album was originally way ahead of its time, combining the space rock of Hawkwind with garage and early punk, along with Python-esque humour which could only come from the brain of a warped genius. Here Davey has done his best to capture all of that, and for any Hawkwind fan this is absolutely essential. It is heavy, it is surreal, and the people who were there last night had a blast as can be heard during their reaction to "I Resign".

An essential album for anyone who loves the classic Hawkwind sound, whether they know the original album or not (what do you mean you haven't heard it? Rectify that now!). Robert Calvert may be a name only known to a few these days, while the name Hawkwind will go on forever, but Davey has done a great job of restoring him to centre stage. This is an album which made me smile from beginning to end and isn't that what music is all about?

 Hawkestrel: The Future Is Us by DAVEY, ALAN album cover Studio Album, 2019
4.38 | 10 ratings

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Hawkestrel: The Future Is Us
Alan Davey Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by TCat
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin

5 stars Hello Hawkwind fans. Alan Davey was the bassist for Hawkwind from 1985 to 1996 and then again from 2000 to 2007. He is the brains behind this band called Hawkestrel, where he provides most of the vocals and instrumentals of the project. Of course, it stands to reason that, since the name of the project is a definite hint to the Hawkwind name, there would be more in common than this to merit a handle that reflect this relationship. Of course there is. Alan has recruited several past musicians that have worked with Hawkwind through the years and scores of line up changes to participate in some of the tracks on this album called "The Future is Us", released in August of 2019. This album, which lasts a little over an hour, has 13 tracks and plenty of opportunities to bring in these special guests. Two major players that show up several times on this album are Ginger Baker (who is famous in his own right, but also played drums on the album "Levitation" (1980)) and Paul Rudolph (who played bass on "Astounding Sounds, Amazing Music" (1976)).

Starting with "Do What You Need to Do" (8:16), Simon House guest stars on violin. House played violin, synthesizer and other keys sporadically for the band, from 1973 ? 1978, 1989 ? 1991, and again as a guest from 2000 ? 2002). House's violin comes in quite early, giving the space rock track that middle-Eastern sound. The track is built upon a heavy guitar and bass riff with moderately fast rhythm and airy space effects. Davey's vocals don't come in until well into the 2nd minute, and the sound is definitely Hawkwind, not a cheap imitation at all. This is the Hawkwind sound we have been craving. Plenty of rocking and plenty of jamming, you would swear this was a track from the 70s. "World for Fear" (4:41) brings in Paul Rudolph on guitar and original member Nik Turner (1969 ? 1976, 1982 ? 1984) on sax. More layers of space rock joy continue here with swirling guitar and sax standing out in the mix. The track is a bit noisier than the first with heavy synths tying it all together. "Sea of Sand" (4:59) retains Paul Rudolph on guitar who doubles with Ginger Baker, who also plays percussion here. This track has a moderate sound, and less noise. Heavy bass and dissonant sax play together in a long introduction, then guest vocalist Bridget Wishart (Hawkwind's only female lead vocalist from 1989 ? 1991) brings in a psychedelic, mysterious sound as the full band sound kicks in along with a faster tempo. The track has a ore experimental feel to it which is really quite appealing. Tempo's change in various places, and a riff from a violin comes in on the last part of the track that turns the music into a swirling dance.

"Nyx of Khaos" (3:45) brings back Ginger Baker on drums and Nik Turner on sax. The beat is quite heavy and the sax has plenty to say here too. Guest Mick Slattery (one of the original guitarists from 1969) also helps out on guitar. A nice synth loop creates a tonal percussion effect. It's a great instrumental with a progressive feel and tricky drum patterns. Baker also plays drums on the title track "The Future is Us" (4:38) and Rudolph once again helps out on guitar. Turner's sax is also back for this one. Davey's vocals are up front on this psychedelic track, which starts off in a hesitant way, but a moderate rhythm is finally established as it moves on and the sax continues doing a sort of call and answer with the vocals. It's a nice, mostly atmospheric and pensive track, but don't be surprised when things explode into action a few times.

"Sonic Attack" is an old spoken word track from Hawkwind, but this time the vocals are done by none other than William Shatner. It actually sounds natural to have him there, like you almost expected it. His voice is heavily echoed and effects are added to help dramatize everything, and of course, you get some contrasting vocals and plenty of space effects. The track is strangely cool, but weird and campy. "12 String Shuffle" (3:47) brings in Hawkwinds founder Huw Lloyd-Langton (1969 ? 1971, 1979 ? 1988 and as a guest from 2002 ? 2005, died in 2012) on acoustic guitar and harp, recorded from sessions from years before. Sound effects surround his performance and harmonica and drums by Baker are also added in. The track has a really nice western/psych feel to it. "May Sun" (6:10) returns to the heavy space rock sound. The keys, bass and guitar are solid against a heavy and moderate beat by Baker. Simon House provides violin on this track again, and again he gets plenty of time to shine even with the many layers of synth noise and loud bass. Davey's vocals are mysterious and somewhat monotone.

Paul Rudolph returns on guitar for "Goodbye Death Valley" (4:45), which starts off after a short synth introduction. The track is a fast space rock song with an extended jam that easily would fit comfortably on any Hawkwind album. Alan does his best calling on his inner Lemmy-style vocals. "Free Like Us" (5:04) also features Rudolph on guitar and brings back Bridget Wishart as guest vocalist. This is another fast space rock jam style song, but with the refreshing female vocals. It makes you wonder why she wasn't utilized more in the Hawkwind days. "Old Dinah" (4:21) brings back Baker one more time with a solid moderate tempo, and a very psychedelic sounding track about the train. Mick Slattery also returns on guitar, and Kevin M. Sommers (who has worked with Alan Davey in the past) lends his off-key, but appropriate vocals. "Hawkestrel" (4:59) is the only track completely performed by Davey. Not a bad track, but it's interesting how the thick track allows nothing to really stand out here as everything except the vocals are buried in layers of instruments, at least until the 2 minute mark, when everything breaks down and gets atmospheric, and then a nice soft guitar solo plays against meandering space effects and synth loops. The last track ends the album with a loud and rocking remake of "Bad Boys for Life (2019 AD Version)" (3:26) sung by Lemmy Kilmister (bass and vocals from 1971 ? 1975, well-known for being Motorhead's frontman, who died in 2015). This is a very appropriate way to end the album with a bang, and this remake is quite good, with a nice synth solo at the end that plays well against the heavy guitar.

If there are any Hawkwind or Hawkwind tribute albums out there that successfully brings back the glory days and sound of Hawkwind, then this is it. The sound is great, the atmosphere and performances are perfect, and somehow, everything ties together into one excellent cohesive package. This is the best Hawkwind album that Hawkwind never released in any of their incarnations. It is totally enjoyable and brings back the most faithful rendition of their sound that I have heard. Hawkwind fans definitely need to hear this one, and it would easily fit in their repertoire. The addition of guests that have had a chance to work with the band in this tribute only makes it that much more enjoyable and authentic. The work of all of these guests is very well balanced also, so that their distinctive work can easily be heard and not drowned out by layers of guest work on only a few tracks, instead, spreading the performances out evenly, only make this album that much better. This is definitely a five star album that I will return to often.

 Bedouin by DAVEY, ALAN album cover Studio Album, 1997
3.36 | 5 ratings

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Bedouin
Alan Davey Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by davidsporle

3 stars Now if your a hawkwind fan especially if you like the album chronicles of the black sword and albums after that [the ones with alan davey on bass and synths,keyboards etc] you will probably love this as i do,i do like actually most of alans music hes done anyway to this album,the first track Rock Palace (4:30)starts with a good bass riff and then the guitar comes in and drums also[this track is also on bedouins as above so below album],this is an enjoyable track the guitar is a good bit of playing with the bass just riffing away and in parts the synth really sounds great and i love it when the synth plays high a brilliant start.Wadi Dhar (11:19) is such a joy to hear with wave sequencer sound which alan to me is brilliant and so mellow and so relaxing and floating ive allways and allways will know that i will love this sound,this is slow like but its just such a nice feeling hearing this,and then after awhile drums come in and bass and guitar and synths to and they play a great track to with the synths being more of lead role and the track just sounds great i just love how the synth plays lead here[it,ll get stuck in ya head for awhile and thats a good thing to,and the bass drums guitar playing after a while as the synth stops and a nice bit of guitar then the synth starts again and thats the track basicly and the last minute is really mellow to brilliant track.Passion Is An Animal (5:25)been the first vocal track starts with bass drums guitar playing a good riff with alans vocals it really fits well together with his bass playing good here as with everything else to,no synths here really attall just rock music with a riff thats good sounding another great track great ending.Alhadan (5:48) starts very mellow as the last track goes into this[meaning the end of last track ends mellow and goes into this track] and this is just great with an instrument [stringed] sounding like something from india or eastern sounding and it just sounds great with the wave sequencer sound playing mellow in background and then an indian or eastern vocal comes in and this sounds great and thats the track basicly a nice track to.Space Rock Café (4:55)[ i like the name of this track] starts with drums and a riff and guitar playing and when the synth plays it really makes the track more and some nice bass playing here to alan plays well here and the synths playing is great to.One Moon Circles (5:05) starts with a sound like someone banging a gong [i think]lightly,and the track gets slightly louder as it gets going and with nice sounding drums[like african sound a bit] and the synths wavey sound playing just how i like sounding mellow and then its more the drums play for a bit,then the synth[wavey] sound plays again i just love this a great track.Queen Of The Nights (5:14) is the second vocal track and with a great track playing and drums and bass and guitar playing and after awhile when alans bass plays it just sounds great[ not that it sounded bad ] and is an addictive sound with guitar playing great then it gets quieter with a nice sound for few seconds then the track plays again with vocals and goes till end.Eyes In The Dark (7:12) starts very fx and wavey sound and this just reminds me of stars shining this is just great to hear it gets mellower after a bit,and abit more in a drum n bas kind of sound comes in which sounds good not hard drums and bass though,with fx with alan playing bass in background which really goes well with the track and the synth fx sound sounding great to and themn the track ends.Sand Devil (2:37) a track from alans collection from 1987 and has a riff and isnt that a bad track not best on here though but its good when the synth comes in as it is addictive then the album ends,this is an album definatly worth having especially if you like hawkwind with alan davey its a definatly get,but to be fair i,ll give it 3 stars,i would 4 but i reckon most people would think 3,so 3 stars.
Thanks to windhawk for the artist addition. and to Quinino for the last updates

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