Cosmic Calypso and Sonic Surprise

Cosmic Calypso and Sonic Surprise

This article first appeared in the NME on 11/11/72

Unless you're deaf, dumb and blind or, alternatively, haven't been keeping up with the music press, you will know that Hawkwind embark this week upon their fabled Space Ritual, once a germ in the brain of Captain Robert Calvert and now a full-blown spectacular, around the country.

Now the question you will doubtless be asking is... will this great creation, surely the most adventurous project that the Sonic Assassins have constructed in their career so far, change the world as we know it? Or, perhaps more realistically, how will a bunch of lovable freaks like Hawkwind, so renowned for their untogetherness, keep it together?

I can't supply you with all the answers, hut yours devotedly did venture down to rehearsals at Jubilee Studios in cosmic Covent Garden by the site of the old U.F.O. experiments to attempt to pick up on the flow of the proceedings.

Once inside, I perceived certain members of the band vaguely attempting a rehearsal; Dave Brock, cutting a fine figure in an Afghan coat, was seated on an amplifier playing around on his beloved custom-built guitar, while Nik Turner seemed also intent on pursuing his musical studies. DikMik had fallen asleep by some speakers, while wandering poet Calvert, back in the merry throng once again, looked earnestly confused.

At the appearance of a newcomer, things came to a halt and I found myself interviewing bassist Lemmy the Lurch. The first item of news is that the famous bass-player has purchased 'new knobs' for his Ł25 instrument (actually, it was Ł27.50p but Ł25 is a rounder sum and, anyway, Lemmy still hasn't paid anything for it).

I probed deeper; how were rehearsals going? Some mumblings to the effect that things were coming together. The night before, the scene had deteriorated into a party, while manager Doug Smith was conspicuous in his absence owing to his belief that the cosmic combo would perhaps get things together better without his constant hustling for them to constructively rehearse.

The whole concept for the Space Ritual is apparently based around Robert Calvert's idea of a spaceship which loses control, with the songs built around its adventures lost in space. The emphasis is on an adventure rather than a moral thesis. The idea is one the band have been toying with for a year now, beginning as a fantasy which United Artists, their record company, were none too keen to finance (first conception was for an inflatable plastic dome to be taken around the country and setup like a circus, so building up a total environmental setting complete with multi-screen projectors showing all manner of films). Now that "Silver Machine" has pointed to their commercial mass appeal, the fantasy has become a reality (complete with all the compromises such a transaction produces) and here they all are, ready to go.

The whole spectacle will last roughly two hours complete with all new songs except for "Born to Go" (recorded for posterity on the "Greasy Truckers" album) and "Brainstorm" (to be found in 12 minute form on the new "Doremi Fasol Latido" album, available on November 10). All the new numbers will eventually find their way onto the Space Ritual double album, probably to be recorded live.

Aficionados of the supreme three-chord bliss of Hawkwind need not be worried by these new ideas - the music will be served up with that lovable raw "joie de vivre" that's been the band's trademark since the beginning.

Already a new dancer, Renee, has been brought in. A veteran psychedelic performer for bands like the Quicksilver Messenger Service (between '66 and '68) and the Jefferson Airplane for two years, Miss Renee possesses an uncanny control of her limbs and is an undoubted asset to the band's line-up. Stacia, the resident dancer, will probably not take to the road with the Ritual. Her reasons stem from a personal desire to improve her dancing talents which means she will spend the time practicing with an instructor. Still, it's all very much in the air at the moment, and there's yet a chance that Stacia will be performing during the time the show is on the road.

The new album "Doremi Fasol Latido" (title along with cover concept courtesy Barney Bubbles, master-mind behind the "In Search Of Space" sleeve and the "Glastonbury" package among many other creations) is an extension and further definition of the band's talents so far. The first side features "Brainstorm", a natural single which the band perhaps wisely refuse to release, fearing the label that comes with successful singles releases. A live favourite, it sounds remarkably powerful from the acetate, as does "Space", a Dave Brock odyssey with a would-you-believe strange calypso beat. I wouldn't either, but there it is, and it sounds good too (note for all those who call Hawkwind a three chord band: this number has at least six chords with a couple of minors thrown in for good measure, so that's a bonus in itself).

The second side has "We Are Always Watching You", more cosmic paranoia, and "The Watcher", a Lemmy composition in which yours devotedly detected a slight Troggs influence. The package is particularly fine : a gate-fold with the new Hawkwind "insignia" on the cover and a design of the band drawn as ancient Vikings. Reports say the record has an advance of 80,000.

So there we all were, discussing the weather and other such trivia when the band felt it was time for a further rehearsal.

Trooping into the main room, the band set up slowly and began with a fine version of "Born To Go". Previously I had tried to ascertain certain details such as what costumes the band would be wearing - "Levis", retorted the charming and elegant drummer, Simon King. I must admit that the thought of such masculine (no AC-DCs here, kids) degenerates as Hawkwind dressed in asexual space drag did appear a trifle absurd, but one never knows just how fame can affect a band, even one as unpretentious as the Sonic Assassins.

The lighting would be the main consideration, it seemed, while such schemes as placing elfin-like mellotron-player Del Dettmar on a six-foot high projection which turned round constantly had not been welcomed by certain parties and was thus dropped. Robert Calvert's role in the Space Ritual will be basically as poet - he will appear at specific points in the event to recite his work and will perform on just one number.

When I left, the band had taken on their characteristic roles once again. Nik Turner was trying to coordinate the proceedings with only Dave Brock to support him, Del was silently musing behind his recorder, Simon's gangly frame was seen around his drumkit, Lemmy had disappeared and DikMik looked as if he was going to fall over (DikMik actually never falls over, he only looks as if he's going to).

Even now in rock music there's always room for at least one good psychedelic band and that is where Hawkwind score. Don't expect the Space Ritual to be a grandiose musical experience in the tradition of the Pink Floyd mating itself with the London Philharmonic. Don't expect mind-blitzed corpses to be dragged from venues wrecked by the profound cerebral damage of the spectacle. In fact, don't expect anything. The band don't really know how the project is going to shape itself.

Anyway, you ought to know that surprises are always more fun.

-Nick Kent