Hawkwind – S/T (1970)

As a Hawkwind fan, I’ll admit that I neglected to give their debut my full attention for awhile, simply because the period between 1972 up through Warrior on the Edge of Time is so monolithic. But I shouldn’t have waited so long, because although it’s very different in tone and style, it is an interesting animal. 

With Dave Brock as the sole writer, it’s not the Space Rock drone the band would come to be known for. The foundation is there for most of the record, but it’s more traditional psychedelic jamming than the heavy, unsettling deep space void of the Lemmy Kilmister period (“Seeing It As You Really Are” being the one major exception, which sounds like anything from their golden era). Gong actually comes to mind. 

The lineup aside from Brock, Turner, and Dik Mik wouldn’t last, eventually making way for classic members like Lemmy, Simon King, Del Dettmar, and occasionally Robert Calvert.

Bookended by two Progressive tunes in “Hurry On Sundown” and the darker “Mirror of Illusion,” both of which are akin the more accessible Hawkwind of the late 70’s (incidentally when Brock became the dominant force again), the middle of the album is a little aimless. But all things considered, I still place this pretty high up there with my favorites. “Hurry On Sundown” is such an iconic track that I have a hard time finding a better single-length song from the group other than “Silver Machine”. A different Hawkwind, but every bit as awe-inspiring, even in this incubation period. Blast off!

by Blake Thomas