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Hawkwind - 'It Is The Business Of The Future....' (Griffin)

Mike Reed | USA | 10/07/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Released,at least in the U.S. in 1993.'It Is the Business...' has the long running UK space rock ensemble trying to combine elements of ambient as well as techno into their trademark style.Not as good as 1992's 'Electric Teepee',but that would be a tough one to beat anyway.Somewhat of a new ground for Hawkwind,but not THAT new.Some of the decent tunes here are the eleven minute epic "Space Is Their Palestine"(a good number when they play it live),the somewhat progressive-like "Techno Tropic Zone","Let Sleeping Dogs Lie" and their Stones cover "Gimme Shelter".Has Hawkwind done many covers,at least on an actual album?The line-up here is strictly a trio:Brock,Alan Davey and drummer Richard Chadwick.A nice addition to anyone's Hawkwind collection."

A great underrated gem

Gary L. Quay | Portland, OR United States | 11/28/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One thing I learned about Hwakwind early on is to never go into any new CD with expectations that it will sound like another. Listen to it as if hearing the group for the first time. Turn it way up and let the time slip by. It's as technically excellent as any latter Hawkwind album and showcases their techno-trance ambient tendencies. My fiancee belly dances to "Tibet is their (Palistine)." Sure, as one reviewer stated, the second half is weaker than the first, but not by much. "Gimme Shelter" needed a better vocalist, but that's my only complaint."

Brock's Dangerous Album

Fritz Gerlich | admin@audioetc.info | 12/25/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"***************Personnel

* Dave Brock - guitar, keyboards, vocals

* Alan Davey - bass guitar, Vocals

* Richard Chadwick - drums



***************Technical Stuff

I have the 1995 Griffin version. It is a very good sounding album, well recorded, mixed, and mastered. You shouldn't have any issues with sound quality on this one.



***************The Music

As I wrote in my title, this is was a dangerous album for Brock because it was a fairly radical departure from the Hawkwind sound. Many fans tend tend to see any change in an artist's sound as betrayal, and react very poorly to it. There is the famous example of Dylan going electric, and the rage that generated in his fans. Personally, I think it is kind of sad if an artist never changes his sound; that says to me they are more interested in producing product for their rock *brand* than in anything artistic. Bands/artists like Kiss, Metallica, Nickleback, Celine Dion, etc. never record dangerous albums.



So what direction did Brock take Hawkwind with this album? Would you believe ambient and reggae? Yup it's true. 8 of the 12 tracks are instrumental electronic ambient excursions more suited to Konspiracy's chill room than a room filled with Hawkwind fans. It gets weirder though, as one track is reggae. The other three tracks consist of 2 that are almost sound like Hawk songs, and an absolutely dreadful remake of "Gimmie Shelter". It is possibly the worst remake of any song ever.



The electronic experimentation is largely successful, and if you like 90's ambient you'll enjoy the 8 tracks. I don't listen to reggae, so I cannot really comment on the quality of that track. The nominal rockers are pretty good as well, but don't expect classic Hawk when you listen to them.



*******************Summary

This is the real oddball in the Hawk catalog, it really doesn't sound anything like any other release. If you can take it on its own terms, and let of your expectations when buying a Hawkwind album, you might really enjoy it.



It is not something for a Hawk newbie though."