Blood Of The Earth (Digi) [Import]

Was quite impressed with this (almost, all-new - except for one song) Hawkwind effort. At least as good if not maybe a bit better than their last two new CD's 'Spacebrock' and 'Take Me Your Leader' {see my reviews of both}. Definitely up-to-par with full-hearted tracks like the spoken word title cut "Blood Of The Earth", the ass-kicking "Wraith", the awesome "Inner Visions", "Sweet Obsession", the truly out-FREAKING-standing "Prometheus" (almost worth the admission price alone) and the re-working of a Hawkwind gem of their 1974 landmark 'Hall Of The Mountain Grill' lp "You'd Better Believe It". Hawkwind is still the space rock pioneer unit they've always been and this CD more than proves it. 'Blood Of The Earth' may be part space rock and part progressive, but it's still a must-have. Line-up: Dave Brock - guitar, synthesizers & vocals, Niall Hone - lead guitar, bass & keyboards, Mr. Dibs - bass & vocals, Tim Blake (on loan from Gong) - keyboards and Richard Chadwick - drums & vocals. On the bonus disc, there are good live performances of a too-short version of "Space Is Deep", one of the new songs "Wraith", "Angels Of Death", Blake's "Tide Of The Century", "Magnu" and an entertaining ten-minute interview. Recommended.

This is a decent disc...on par with 'Take Me To Your Leader' from '05. Tim Blake returns and this 5 piece band is simaler to that which recorded 'Levitation' 30 years ago in 1980, Blake is a feature of that album as well. He does some nice work here cowriting 3 songs along with 'Inner Visions' (his offering), he recites the lyrics on this track...it's my personal favorite on this disc...(pump up the volume and add a 'lil gas to your tanks)!!! The Capt. Dave Brock once again reveals glimpses of the future through a "Porthole In The Realm Of Time"..."Multi-Digital Codes" replacing our ancient bi-nary systems..."Microscopic Artificial Life-Forms" engineering their human hosts, preparing their sences for new wave-length figures. Think of this as you listen to 'Comfey Chair'...the music part of this song has a video-game sound-quality, imagine light that gets you high and is addictive! MR. Dibbs is solid his voice featured on 3 songs 'Prometheus' and 'Sentinal' are well executed cool songs, the former has a Far-Eastern feel complete with sitar sound the latter has a De'ja Vu quality with lyrics faintly remanisant of earlier work (see/hear PXR5 for referance) 'Wraith' however is a bit choppy...I like the song idea the synth and guitar leads are cherry but the sound mix is off, to muddy! Richard Chadwicks bass drum is burried most of the song also Dibbs vocals don't work as well as his other comps. 'Green Machine' an instrumental is O.K. (basically filler), 'Sweet Obsession' is much the same as it was 25 years ago when it appeared on Brocks' solo L.P. (it has music that sounds like a gay workout video)! ERNEST SAIS: EEWWWW These two songs placed 4th & 6th hurt the continuity and really don't fit. That is the main detractor. I view this disc as an extension of 'Realms/Ship Of Dreams' from 'Space Bandits' 1990. So take the band-form from 1980 then construct an album of a song-form from 1990 in a hodge-podge like 'Spacebrock' from 2000 than: TA DA it's Hawkwind @ 40...enjoy. 70/100 for music content.

It is close or even better that what is considered classic Hawkind in the early 70's to early 80's.

in rating any Hawkwind recording I always look for the sound/production which is excellent and not bad bootleg quality.

the sound and production is excellent

In looking for any reviews on any prog rock recording I look for any indication of any boring instrumental noodling/jamming whose musicians neither have the professionalism of the Allman Brothers, Phish or other quality bands to do this and still make is interesting music , nor have the improvising talent of many Jazz musicians to do it well, or if they do, they have not shown so because they are either stoned, drunk or zonked out, and the producer likewise.

This is not the case, instrumental passages are well thought out and done beautiful.

Likewise in any prog reviews I look for indication of trying to gain mainstream radio airplay and subsequently sound like a boring pop band

This is not the case with this Hawkwind recording