Another year, another Hawkwind live album, the umpteenth of its ilk, with the umpteenth lineup performing the umpteenth versions of “Brainstorm,” “Born to Go” and “Space Is Deep.” Incredibly, it’s now half a century since Hawkwind erupted into the U.K. mass consciousness with the “Silver Machine” hit single, but its absence from the running order of We Are Looking in on You (Cherry Red) is scarcely worth noting.
For even cynics groaning (as we just did)“Oh Lordy, here we go again” will be sucked into the web within a minute or two. Because, no matter how many times you’ve heard them before, it’s still Hawkwind. And we ought to know by now. To judge any Hawkwind live album by the contents of the set list, or the names behind each instrument, is to approach them from completely the wrong direction.
Hawkwind’s 2021 album,, was fresh on the shelves when this was recorded, and three of the new songs squeeze into the set. What fascinates, however, is how the older material continues to evolve, while appearing to remain standing still: “Magnu” churning brains for 10 magnificent introductory minutes; “Uncle Sam’s on Mars,” as it drifts what claims to be a new song, “USB1,” but which is merely an unfamiliar sequence in the same song; “Spirit of the Age,” with the audience encouraged to sing along — and Dave Brock, still in better voice than a helluva lot of other artists of his age can claim to be.
