Search - Hawkwind :: Electric Teepee

A Huge Sounding Polyphonic Hawks Album

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

(5 out of 5 stars)

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

* Dave Brock - electric guitar, keyboards, vocals

* Alan Davey - bass guitar, vocals

* Richard Chadwick - drums

The Hawkind collective becomes the Hawkwind trio with the acrimonious departure of Bridget Wishart (vocals); and the less acrimonious departure of Simon House (violin/synths), and Harvey Bainbridge (Keyboards and Vocals).



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

I have the '92 Castle mastering, and the 2009 Atomhenge/Cherry Hill remaster. The '92 Castle remaster is superior. There is no extra compression, no clipping, and no mastering induced distortion. The 2009 Cherry Hill version does have some mild compression, clipping, and mastering induced distortion (google 'loudness war' for more info) on some songs: "LSD", "Death of War", "The Secret Agent", "Space Dust", "Mask of the Moring", "Don't Understand", and "Sadness Runs Deep." The damage done by the mastering engineer is relatively mild, so you'll probably be happy with the 2009 version; but if you do want the best then seek out the '92.



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

For this record, Brock had purchased and started using to full effect modern sequencers and sythns. While the core values of a Hawkwind album are still present (driving space rockers with thumping bass and ambient electronic interludes), the sythn presence on the rock numbers is much greater than in previous albums. Brock used his home studio for this one, so he could spend alot more time in recording and experimenting as he did not have the crushing hourly costs of a regular studio. He squeezed as much music on the relatively new cd as he could, 74 minutes. It could have used some editing as there is a great 45 minute album in that 75 minute cd. Despite the reduction in band size to a trio, the sound is exceptionally full, almost a wall of sound. This is not a stripped down, minimalistic sounding Hawks album.



The Highlights:

"LSD" is a bass thumping, guitar hammering number made magical by the restraint use of synths, great stuff.



"Blue Shift" is one of their all time greatest ambient space interludes. It is really evocative.



"Secret Agent" has some really good lyrics a la the Calvert years.



"Right to Decide" has one of the most catchy Hawk hooks and lyrics since "Silver Machine".



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

One of the better post-70s Hawk albums; good for both newcomers and essential for die hards."