Hawkwind

Roadhawks

(Esoteric/Cherry Red)

9/10

By Decibel Report

As the final release on the United Artists record label, Roadhawks was conceived as a makeweight between eras in this spacey, psyched up band's continuing flight towards sonic infinities and beyond. The original LP contained a much-coveted poster and the arresting cover artwork by Barney Bubbles still stops you dead in your tracks. The compiled music, on this cosmic curio, also acts as a barometer with which to calibrate the recorded development of this crazed institution at an epoch fulfilling point in the mid-70s.

It was a time when there existed a sub-genre of bands who, during the supersonic 70s, took the themes of space and time as a core element of their musical being and explored the universal big questions soundtracked by a trance-like sound. Never really a band of masterful instrumentalists in the sense of a Gong, nevertheless, Hawkwind cornered and pretty much owned this sub-genre and sonically fought their corner as leaders of an expansive trippy movement.

The songs herein are assembled in album chronological order taken from Hawkwind’s first six releases. Consequent personnel changes in the band saw Lemmy’s departure and, with a new record label beckoning, Robert Calvert returned on the following studio album released after this milestone compilation.

Opening with a track which began its journey being busked on Portobello Road, not far from Basing Street and Landsdowne Road studios, Brock and band could only dream of eventually reaching a half-century milestone with the heft of a huge discography and a loyal following behind them. 

Hurry On Sundown’s mix of psych-folk is a sagacious harbinger of songs to come as their sound developed heavier, groove motifs as evidenced on You Shouldn't Do That which showcases their full-on live tour-de-force sonic sound-shaping. It's also revealing how important Nik Turner was in controlling the creation of the chaotic musical vibe which took the music into far-reaching abstract areas.

Lemmy's finest moment in the band on Silver Machine still wormholes any listener back to an era before Motorhead launched a mutually assured nuclear assault on the senses.

However, of particular note is the inclusion of the controversial song Urban Guerilla and its provocative message and subversive commercial potential to be a hit record. With lyrics such as: 'I'm an Urban Guerilla, I make bombs in my cellar', sending jitters through the establishment, it was banned upon its original release as the IRA was actively involved in a bombing campaign in the UK. Nevertheless, it's a remarkable first and only lead vocal by Robert Calvert until he re-joined the band on the following album.

This treasured artefact plays out with Space Is Deep, Wind Of Change and The Golden Void all of which are infused with dollops of mystical, mind expanding sonic-scapes that has become Hawkwind's signature call to ears ever since.

This museum piece compilation release remains an essential document of a national institution which resolutely sallies forth into inner deep space with heavy mindful cosmic messages still as relevant as ever they were.