Search - Nik Turner :: Sphynx

Great in its own right

pauladdison | 11/06/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"OK it is not Xitintotoday, but if you want Xitintoday then buy Xitintoday, this is great in its own right: spacey, ambient, hypnotic, a great album fitting in with Niks recent (well 94) return. Give it a chance you'll love it!"

Nik Turner - 'Sphynx' (Cleopatra)

Mike Reed | USA | 11/12/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's more than safe to say that Hawkwind co-founder/sax/flute player Nik Turner is fully able to still put out incredible over-the-top solo efforts.When I first found out about this eleven track disc,I just couldn't wait to get a copy of it.Something I didn't know THEN.That this Cleopatra release of Turner's 'Sphynx' is actually his 1978 'Xinitoday' lp with all of the songs redone.No complaint here.To SOME degree,parts of this disc sort of reminds me of,say David Bowie.Well,on the vocals anyway.My two favorite cuts here are "God Rock" and the ten-minute epic "The Weighing Of Heart And Negative Confession".Some of the other 'out there' tunes include "The Awakening","Thoth" and "Isis And Nepthys".To experience something really mind-blowing,check out the twenty-five minute "Original Sounds From The Great Pyramid" where Turner does some experimental flute work,while vacationing in Giza,Egypt INSIDE an actual pyramid,in 1976.Is it just me or is that trippy?I'd met Turner twice now while he's toured the states and he was more than happy to tell me all about it.This track was a bonus cut on 'Sphynx' and I've recently recieved a copy of his 'Xinitoday' reissue and from what I've heard from several other Hawkfans,it DOES practically sounds like a different album.Recommended."

Sphinx a critcal analysis

jonscrap | 01/11/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Nik Turner has created a unique ambience with this spoken word voyage thru ancient Egyptian mysteries. Drawing heavily on the Egyptian Book of the Dead for content, Nik's almost mantra like intonation evokes powerful imagery from a civilisation more than 2000 years in the past, a civilisation who's belief and reliance on the supernatural powers of the gods extended far beyond what we have discovered today. Backed by ex-"Pressurehead" Helios Creed and other notables the music is a high energy counterpoint to the syntax and weaves and blends well with the orators performance. Although unlikely to grab the listener with the first run through, given a chance and listened to in the early hours.. "Sphinx" will build and grow upon you as a deeply mystical and interesting album. Love and light"