Over their 55 year existence, space/psychedelic rockers Hawkwind have released a large number of live albums documenting the bands highs (and not so highs). Live Chronicles (1986), Live Seventy Nine (1980), Love In Space (1996), Yule Ritual (2001), Knights In Space (2008), Live Space Ritual (2015), At The Roundhouse (2017), you get the idea, but preceding, and trumping them all was Space Ritual (1973). So, especially considering Cherry Red’s very own 2020 50th anniversary release 50 Live and 2022’s We Are Looking In On You live compilation, is there really any need for more Hawkwind live material? Judging by this latest release the answer to that question is a resounding yes, despite leader Dave Brock playing at the hallowed venue as a busker in 1969 the band didn’t take to the stage of the prestigious London venue until 2019 and I feel that the ever present Brock deserves to have his return to the RAH documented in such a manner.
The evening was tagged as “Space Ritual – An Evening Of Sonic Destruction 50 Years On”, but in spite of this title the set would in reality only include a handful of tracks from that classic release. It is immediately obvious that despite their revolving door policy, Hawkwind are still a mighty force when they take to the stage and this is only amplified within the cavernous dome of this historic hall, which not only enhances the cosmic droan but with its iconic “bubble” ceiling must have looked other worldly to the gathered onlookers. With Brock (guitar/vocals) leading the current line up of veteran drummer, Richard Chadwick, Magnus Martin (guitar/vocals) and new boys Doug MacKinnon (bass) and Tim “Thighpaulsandra” Lewis (synths/keyboards), the Hawks launch into the set with a track which established the band as part of the growing NWOBHM in the early 80’s, and there is no better place to start than the formidable ‘Levitation’. The set gives only a cursory glance to that period in time and space with the only other track from the 80’s being ‘Arrival In Utopia’, a psychedelic trip from the Choose Your Masques album, as producer and musician William Orbit joins the group on stage and remains for a significant portion of the night’s entertainment to add a “large slab of Orbit noise” to proceedings. However the 90’s fair no better with only the joyful bounce of ‘Right To Decide’ from Electric Teepee cutting the mustard. Hawkwind have always had one eye firmly on the future and this set is no different with the Hammond rich ‘Rama The Prophecy’ and bipolar ‘The Beginning’ from 2023’s The Future Never Waits plus ‘Underwater City’, a moody acoustic guitar piece from newbie Stories From Space And Time earning their places alongside classics ‘Spirit Of The Age’ and ‘Assault and Battery’/’Golden Void’ within a (quite rightly) 70’s heavy collection. The main set concludes with the Space Ritual double whammy of the spacey ’10th Second of Forever’ featuring the vocal presence of “God Of Hellfire” and support on the night, Arthur Brown, and ‘Born To Go’, now incorporating the instrumental ‘Star Explorer’ section. As with the evenings opener, ‘Brainstorm’ crashes into the encore in a cosmic blur setting things up beautifully for the closing Space Ritual sonic attack (see what I did there?) of ‘Black Corridor’ where Brown takes ownership of Robert Calvert’s poetic passage, and the inevitable ‘Master Of The Universe’, ‘Welcome To The Future’ climax.
On the CD version the two live CDs are joined by a third disc of rehearsal recordings from across the wide Hawkwind universe including ‘Frozen In Time’ which sounds a little like a Roxy Music out-take, the fourteen minute guitar based trance of ‘Practical Ability’, an extended ‘Lost Chances’/’Second Chance’ combo from Sonic Attack, an edited version of new instrumental, ‘Underwater City’ and a stretched take on Electric Teepee‘s, ‘Mask Of Morning’. As good as it is, I’m not really sure that these bonuses are a great fit here and they add little to the bundle as a whole. Cost permitting a DVD/Blu-ray of the show would have been a much better way to round things off, similar to the 2017 Live At The Roundhouse offering. As well as the 3CD option the set will also be available on triple vinyl in early 2025 and is accompanied by insightful sleeve notes charting the run up to the event through the eyes of all of the key protagonists. This compendium is not so much a celebration of the Space Ritual live album but more a checkpoint within the journey of an incredible musical force.
Hawkwind are one of only a few of bands who have continued to constantly add new material to their catalogue throughout a seriously long career and as well as April 2024 seeing the release of the bands 36th studio album, Stories From Time And Space, 2025 will see the “Masters Of The Universe” heading out once more in support of that latest release with their “There Is No Space For Us” tour of the UK which culminates at London’s Barbican in late May. Do I sense yet another live album on the way? I believe I do.
- Reviewed By Peter Brockwell.
- Live At The Royal Albert Hall is released via Cherry Red Records 13th December 2024 (vinyl following 31st January 2025)
- Hawkwind (@HawkwindHQ) / X
- Hawkwind (@hawkwindhq) • Instagram photos and videos
Track List:
CD1:
1. Levitation
2. You’d Better Believe It
3. Psychedelic Warlords
4. Arrival In Utopia
5. Rama The Prophecy
6. The Beginning
7. Spirit Of The Age
8. Underwater City
9. Assault and Battery
10. The Golden Void
CD2:
1. Peace
2. Right To Decide
3. 10th Second of Forever
4. Born To Go
5. Star Explorer
6. Brainstorm
7. Neurons
8. Black Corridor
9. Master Of The Universe
10. Welcome To The Future
CD3:
1. Frozen In Time – Studio Rehearsal
2. Practical Ability – Studio Rehearsal
3. Lost Chances – Studio Rehearsal
4. Second Chance – Studio Rehearsal
5. Underwater City – Studio Rehearsal
6. Mask Of Morning
Vinyl Version:
SIDE A
1. Levitation
2. You’d Better Believe It
3. Psychedelic Warlords
SIDE B
1. Arrival In Utopia
2. Rama The Prophecy
3. The Beginning
SIDE C
1. Spirit Of The Age
2. Underwater City
3. Assault & Battery
4. The Golden Void
SIDE D
1. Peace
2. Right To Decide
3. 10th Second of Forever
SIDE E
1. Born To Go
2. Star Explorer
3. Brainstorm
4. Neurons
SIDE F
1. Black Corridor
2. Master Of The Universe
3. Welcome To The Future
