This article first appeared in a magazince called Way Ahead back in 1978, presumably shortly after the Hawklords album had been released. I've retyped it here as it first appeared so you'll have to excuse the grammar and "in my opinion" the pretty poor use of the English language that is apparent throughout much of the piece. Mind you, that said at least the bloke got it published which is more than I've ever done (apart from on the internet) and he does appear to be a genuine fan.
HAWKLORDS - 25 YEARS ON
After a multitude of Vodkas had passed through my lips, I looked around at all the happy faces and then at myself seated alone at a table in the corner. The news I'd heard probably didn't mean anything to anybody else in the bar at all but to me it was like a nail in my musical coffin. Hawkwind had split.
So you probably think I'm crazy anyway, after all they'd been going for so long and they were old wave and out of date. Inevitably they were to die. But as I looked forward to every new Hawkwind album just like a kid looks forward to Christmas and they also held so many fond memories for me. After all they brought so many memorable characters into the music worlds; The Thunderider, Count Motorhead, The Sonic Prince, Moorcock, Baron Brock,Stacia and of course Captain Calvert to name but a few. Who can forget the imagination and forethought that went into the unforgettable "Space Ritual". Making matters worse was that it was not so long since I had spoken with Captain Calvert who had assured me that after an unfruitful period hawkwind were on their way back and who could disbelieve him after "Quark, Strangeness and Charm". With a new album on the way everything was about to "lift off" for the band as far as I was concerned and then came the knife in the dark - Hawkwind had split.
Then just as if my every wish had been catered for the news arrived that the bands main song writers, Bob Calvert and Dave Brock had got together and formed a brand new band simply entitled Hawklords. Gone is Simon House who continues to tour with David Bowie and who will not be returning to Hawklords after that venture is completed. Gone also are drummer Simon King and bassist Adrian Shaw. Their places are taken by Steve Swindels on keyboards, Martin Griffin on drums and Harvey Bainbridge on bass, who incidentally played bass when Calvert and Brock got some friends together and played a few gigs during the Christmas period of '77 under the name of Sonic Assassins. Before this happened Hawkwind as I mentioned earlier had a new album on the way which has since been completed and titled "PXR 5" but because of Hawkwinds split the Hawklords feel that what they are doing now is completely different so the album has been shelved and will now probably be released in the new year.
But don't feel disappointed because the Hawklords have just had their first album released simply entitled Hawklords and therefore it would have been foolish to release the two together.
The album opens with "PSI Power" written by Calvert and Brock and in addition to the five members of the band also features Henry Lowther on trumpet. It is an extremely powerful opener with a catchy guitar riff that will have even the sleepiest of people singing along. But what the track demonstrates again as on the rest of the album is just how good a lyricist Bob Calvert is. It is all about a lad who possesses PSI Power and finds it fun because he can see into peoples minds but as he grows up he realises what a burden it is.
It's
like a radio you can't switch off, there's no way to get peace of mind,
I'd like to live inside a lead lined room and leave all this PSI Power behind.
Circle, square, triangle and waves, it's a gift that soon turned sour,
Why don't they let me get some rest, it's too much to understand and to digest.
The second track "free Fall" is the only one on the album not written by either Calvert or Brock or both as it is a Calvert / Bainbridge composition. It is generally a very mellow number with some good keyboard and bass work and swirling synthesiser throughout as Calvert describes the pleasures and fear of free fall.
"Auotmotion" follows featuring only the writers Brock on synthesiser and the voice of Calvert. It starts off very slow and just keeps building up until it goes straight into "25 Years" which is much more typical of the old Hawkwind style, fast and jerky. It features Bob Calvert on 'stutter voice' which is very effective and fits neatly into place with the general riff of the number. This track as of most tracks of side 2 were recorded before Martin Griffin joined the band and Simon King performs on drums.
Side 2 begins with one of my favourite tracks on the album entitled "Flying Doctor". Another very powerful number which is also highly amusing. It's all about the one and only "Flying Doctor" who is always high on his own drugs and Calvert gives it a touch of originality by singing in an Australian accent using a wobble board. Also not to be missed on this track is a very rare guitar solo from Mr Brock.
For the next track "The Only Ones" the pace slows down again and as well as Simon king on drums for this track and the rest of the album there is Simon House on violin and it's a real shame that Simon won't be returning to the band, because his work on violin adds more depth to the band
It's the next number though that for me is the best track on the album and with so much good material it is hard to choose but although only a short track it is so powerful musically with some excellent keyboard work but once again it's the lyrics that really hit you. (this is exactly as it was written, I assume he's referring to "Cold War Kid" as that's the lyrics below.
"In
a tower by the wall the machine gunners wait
To type out the orders that seal his fate
From deep in the shadows where he's always hid
It's only the dead dreams of the cold war kid".
the album closes much the same way as side 1 of "Quark Strangeness and Charm" with "Age Of The Microman" being almost a continuation of "Fable of a Failed Race". But just as I thought the latter being a good way to close a side, then the past is even more emphasised with the former closing the album.
So a successful first venture for the Hawklords and to co-incide with an extremely long and rewarding tour of the country as nearly all the gigs were sold out well before the tour started. Just as the albums well worth the listen then the band are well worth seeing live. As ever the band have got dancers and back projections plus the usual quality light show. They also play a wide range of material including the old favourites "Brainstorm" and "Silver Machine". When I saw them at Leicester they also included four numbers off the unreleased album "PXR 5", "Robot(s)", High Rise", "Uncle Sam's on Mars" and the b-side to the current single "Deathtrap". All that remains for me to say is that maybe this time the band will get that much deserved and worked for break.
Ian Walker
(one's to assume that this is not the ex Tottenham and England goall keeper of the
same name who now, spookily plays for Leicester city, having just checked his date of
birth he'd have been 7 at the time, so unlikely, mind you could explain the poor English!)
|
