Music > Album Reviews

Hawkwind - Into The Woods

19/04/17

Since 1969, Hawkwind have gone from underground heroes to the unlikeliest of pop stars and back again. Now, after 30 studio and 11 live albums and gawd alone knows how many line-up changes, the erstwhile progenitors of space-rock are enjoying a sustained period in the sun. If you’re a fan, you will love this. If you aren’t, you won't. If you don't know the band, there are better places to begin your education but it ain't a bad place to start, representing both the best and worst of Dave Brock and co. First, the good. The title track is a slice of heavy rock that shames Metallica. Have You Seen Them and Wood Nymph are classic melodic rock. Ascent is classy folk. Closer Magic Mushrooms is a stunning jam, equal parts classic Hawks and Mancini's Peter Gunn. Now the bad. Space Ship Blues is bizarre, combining Quo riffage, sci-fi synths and bluegrass. It made me smile but I can't imagine listening to it too often. All in all, this is a decent album from a band close to its fifth decade but it doesn't match earlier classics or the stupendous live show. Whatever, it is good that the ‘Wind are still around and that, for me, is enough of a reason to buy this.

7/10