HAWKWIND - ATOMHENGE AND ESSENTIALS

 

(Hawkwind At Rockfield Studios Monmouth Wales early 70's)

I threatened to do this years ago in another post where I defended Hawkwind as one of the most underappreciated bands of psychedelic music. I also think that the whole hippy/space rock/traveler associations related to Hawkwind though endorsed by the band themselves has rendered them a kinda "niche" band though popular enough to subsist on their touring and album sales never quite reaching the heights of popularity to become a true household name, which in my opinion is what they deserve. Having constantly reinvented themselves in new and interesting ways yet never having strayed too far from their core sound Hawkwind for me have remained consistently fantastic for  over 50 years and are one of the most unique and inventive bands in the history of rock music.

 I have been a fan for near 30 of those 50 years. So how did I get into them?  Here's my story, Whilst in my teen years, despite someone in my circle of friends always having a Hawkwind album and having heard "Silver Machine" and "Hassan-I-Sabbah" a million times particularly the latter simply because my pothead friends used to like to play it because of it's refrain of "hashish hashish hashish" I never really took to them lumping them in with the rest of the old man hippy shit! Around 1991/92 my interest in extreme music such as death metal etc began to wane, I also kinda fell in with a new group of friends, who, despite liking great music were not a part of that "extreme" scene. I began to get my mind opened to all sorts of new music and that was the real beginning of the opening of the musical floodgates that got me to where I am today! Enter my old pal "J" he was a few years older than the rest of us and was a kinda hippy!, He not only introduced me to  Hawkwind, Ozric Tentacles, Gong,Steve Hillage etc he also gave me an education on cannabis and hallucinogenics! Previously I had just wanted to get wrecked on weed n booze. "J"  taught me to use these things more like a sacrament to expand my mind and this tied in with the sounds of space rock changed me forever! Hawkwind have been a firm favourite ever since and they long outlasted my youthful dabblings in drugs!!

So I am not even going to attempt a Hawkwind discography having released a staggering 92 albums (Live and studio) and a further minefield of 102 compilations and that is just under the Hawkwind name alone, when you start looking at side bands, pseudonyms etc it just makes you dizzy I own 24 CD's by them and my digital collection amounts to a staggering 11 GB and I can honestly say I'm only scratching the surface! Couple that with the fact that they have re-recorded old material multiple times it's just insane and makes my head hurt! I think even a true dedicated lifetime HAWFAN would struggle to provide you with a full discography! So what can I give my discerning blog readers that would fit the bill and satisfy me that I was giving you a top quality overview of one of my favourite bands???

Back in 2010 Hawkwind hooked up with notorious underground label Cherry Red which I think is still their home to date and started a sub-label called Atomhenge this was to be the ultimate in Hawkwind reissuing, remastering, repackaging and expanding a huge chunk of their classic back catlog covering the years 1975 - 1997. For the Hawkwind fan this was an absolute mind blower. Not only were the albums remastered and sounded great, in most cases they were expanded massively with outtakes, EP's Live shows and all sorts. They also reissued some of their key side projects such as Robert Calvert's 1st solo album , Psychedelic Warriors and Hawklords debut. However it would appear that Hawkwind were unable to or unwilling to purchase the rights to their classic first 4 studio albums and the seminal live double album "Space Ritual" the rights for these belong to EMI and I can't imagine negotiations to procure those could have been easy! However EMI took it upon themselves to reissue/remaster & expand these themselves,, though not quite as exhaustive as the Atomhenge releases they look and sound great and come with some essential bonuses. There is one more small thing I felt I had to add! Seems like for some reason not one of these amazing reissues contains Hawkind's most famous song "Silver Machine" so you will also find below a little file with the original "Silver Machine/Seven By Seven" 7" below taken from the "Of Time And Stars" singles collection.

This brings me to your links... The original intention behind this post was to bring you the complete (or as near complete as my research can tell me) set of Atomhenge Hawkwind reissues along with the key side projects I mentioned in the last paragraph. However I felt that if I was NOT gonna do a discography the least I could do was give you the Atomhenge albums plus the absolutely essential first 5 albums on EMI too! As it seemed a shame that you'd miss out on the first 7 years of the band. 

I have not as yet talked about the music of Hawkwind they are a band as undefinable as they are great, taking in a plethora of influences over the decades and constantly changing but yet remaining consistently Hawkwind. you are either a fan or not and I doubt that you're likely to come across this post just casually browsing for Hawkwind. I guess this is, selfishly or not, a post for fans. If you are a regular visitor and you really are just curious then maybe start with the double Live album "Space Ritual" or later double Live album "Live Chronicles" whilst vastly different coming some 15 years or so apart and despite being live these were among the first Hawkwind I heard and I definitely think if you want a feel of the band these would be your best place to start. 

So here's a guide to your links with a brief overview of what's extra on each release. ALL albums are remastered so I won't be mentioning that again. (Note - the list below is in chronological order but the links are not, as I added them as they were done uploading as I have been working on the uploads for weeks as the total size of these files was not far off 5GB and the albums individually took between 1 & 2 hrs each to upload as almost ALL of these are ripped from my own CD's at 320KBPS the ones that are not are also at 320KBPS for best quality I can give)

EMI REISSUES (ALL REISSUED 2001)

HAWKWIND (1970)  comes with 4 bonus tracks inc 3 from Hawkwind Zoo (Hawkwind's original moniker)

X - IN SEARCH OF SPACE (1971) Includes 3 bonus single tracks

DOREMI FASOL LATIDO (1972) Includes 4 bonus single tracks

SPACE RITUAL (LIVE) (1973) originally double vinyl this version 2 x CD Expanded from it's original  17 tracks to 21 tracks recorded over 2 concerts in London & Liverpool Dec 1972

HALL OF THE MOUNTAIN GRILL (1974) - includes 5 bonus tracks. Single versions and outtakes


ATOMHENGE REISSUES  (2010 - PRESENT)

WARRIOR ON THE EDGE OF TIME (1975) - 2 x CD. Disc 1 - The original album stereo remaster from original tapes plus 8 bonus outtakes etc Disc 2 - 2013 stereo mix by Steven Wilson plus 5 more bonus live/outtakes/versions

ASTOUNDING SOUNDS AMAZING MUSIC (1976) - Includes 4 bonus outtakes/versions

QUARK, STRAGENESS AND CHARM (1977) 2 x CD - Disc 1 - The original album plus 4 bonus outtakes/versions Disc 2 - Aborted Rockfield studio session for the album plus 3 additional live tracks

P.R.X. 5 (1979) - Original album plus 9 bonus tracks outtakes/versions 

LEVITATION (1980) - 3 x CD Disc 1 Original album plus 8 bonus tracks inc  Hawklords Rockfield studios session 1979 and 2 single tracks and an unreleased version of "Brainstorm" live 1980 Discs 2 & 3 Full live concert from Lewisham Odeon Dec 1980

LIVE SEVENTY NINE (1980)  - includes 2 bonus single tracks

SONIC ATTACK (1981) - Disc 1 album Disc 2 bonus tracks includes alternate versions and singles.

CHOOSE YOUR MASQUES (1982) - Disc 1 - Album plus 2 alternate mixes/single versions Disc 2 - Previously Unreleased Session Recordings And Alternate Mixes (12 tracks)

CHURCH OF HAWKWIND (1982) - full album plus 5 bonus alternate versions/demos

"THE CHRONICLE OF THE BLACK SWORD" (1985) - Album plus 5 bonus tracks includes  the full "Night Of the Hawk - The Earth Ritual" EP and a further B-side

"LIVE CHRONICLES" (1986) - Live on the "Chronicle Of The Black Sword Tour" expanded from a single to a double CD and has an additional 6 tracks and is restored to it's original format with narration sections being separate tracks.

"THE XENON CODEX" (1988) - Original album plus 5 bonus live tracks

"SPACE BANDITS" (1990) Album plus 2 bonus Live in the studio recordings and a b-side

"PALACE SPRINGS" (1991) - 2 x CD Disc 1 - original album plus 2 Bonus tracks Disc 2 - First time on CD for limited vinyl album "California Brainstorm" full set from the same U.S. tour as "Palace Springs" but with no studio overdubs.

"ELECTRIC TEEPEE" (1992) - full album remastered no bonuses

"IT IS THE BUSINESS OF THE FUTURE TO BE DANGEROUS" (1993) -  2 x CD Disc 1 - Full album plus bonus Sam Fox version of "Gimme Shelter" Disc 2 - The Remix EP's "The Solstice Remixes" & "Decide Your Future"

"ALIEN 4" (1995) - Album plus 1 bonus track

"DISTANT HORIZONS" (1997) - Full album plus 2 bonus tracks and an alternate take.

ATOMHENGE REISSUES - KEY SIDE PROJECTS

HAWKLORDS - "25 YEARS ON" (1978) - Formed after Hawkwind briefly split up in 1977 this is in all essence a Hawkwind album 2 x CD Disc 1 - Album plus 3 bonus tracks Disc 2 - 15 tracks -  includes full Sonic Assassins EP Plus a 10 track unreleased studio session.

PSYCHEDELIC WARRIORS - "WHITE ZONE"  (1995) Electric Teepee/It Is The Business line up of Hawkwind doing an instrumental electronic/ambient album no bonus tracks

ROBERT CALVERT - "CAPTAIN LOCKHEED & THE STAR FIGHTERS" (1974) album features almost all current and ex members of that era of Hawkwind as backing band includes 3 bonus single versions.

That is that then a huge collection of Hawkwind and one of, if not THE biggest post to date! I hope this gives some of you fans some things that you can't get easily as almost all of these Atomhenge reissues are out of print, some can be found for reasonable prices on places like discogs and ebay but some are commanding prices in the £20 - £40 region I've been trying to get the Atomhenge version of "Sonic Attack" for quite some time!!! So Enjoy & Remember

"SPACE IS DEEP" 

EDIT 

Kind reader Mattack has done a spotify playlist for this post clocking in at nearly 32 hrs!!! He has also done it in chronological order too! Much as I hate spotify I have to accept a lot of people get their music there rather than clunky ol' free downloads! So here you go and thank you mattack! 

HAWKWIND ATOMHENGE & ESSENTIALS SPOTIFY PLAYLIST

HAWKWIND - EMI/ATOMHENGE EDITIONS


SPACE BANDITS -  Mediafire

CHURCH OF HAWKWIND - Mediafire

THE XENON CODEX - Mediafire

LIVE '79 - Mediafire

THE CHRONICLE OF THE BLACK SWORD - Mediafire

ASTOUNDING SOUNDS AMAZING MUSIC - Mediafire

CHOOSE YOUR MASQUES - Mediafire

LIVE CHRONICLES - Mediafire

ELECTRIC TEEPEE - Mediafire

ALIEN 4 - Mediafire

PRX5 - Mediafire

X IN SEARCH OF SPACE - Mediafire

HALL OF THE MOUNTAIN GRILL - Mediafire

SPACE RITUAL - Mediafire

LEVITATION - Mediafire

HAWKWIND - Mediafire

DOREMI FASOL LATIDO  - Mediafire

DISTANT HORIZONS - Mediafire

SONIC ATTACK - Mediafire

IT IS THE BUSINESS OF THE FUTURE TO BE DANGEROUS - Mediafire

QUARK STRANGENESS AND CHARM - Mediafire

WARRIOR ON THE EDGE OF TIME -  Mediafire

PALACE SPRINGS / CALIFORNIA BRAINSTORM  - Mediafire

SILVER MACHINE 7" - Mediafire

KEY SIDE PROJECTS

PSYCHEDELIC WARRIORS  - WHITE ZONE - Mediafire

HAWKLORDS - "25 YEARS ON" - Mediafire

ROBERT CALVERT - "CAPTAIN LOCKHEED..." - Mediafire

BURNING FLAG - MATADOR REVIEW.

 Burning Flag 2021 L-R Matt - Drums, Mark - Bass, Holly - Vox, Jonesy - Guitar

I have taken a huge step back from participating in the punk/HC underground in recent years but one band for whom my passion has never wavered is these guys. Burning Flag have pretty much ruled the UK HC scene for me for the last few years after 2 incredible albums they parted (amicably) with their brilliant singer MD and, for me when you have your  sound nailed and fantastic chemistry this could have been a blow most band couldn't recover from.

This is not the case here Burning Flag are back with a new singer Holly and a new album "Matador" and it's absolutely fuckin blistering!

Opening with an innocuous quiet little piece of music the album bursts out of the gate with what is possibly their fastest song to date "Thrown Out" with a ferocity that I haven't felt since dropping the needle on Discharge's "Hear Nothing, See Nothing, Say Nothing" for the first time, it has that same blast-you-into-the-wall  effect! The production is outstanding, the guitars are a solid wall of intensity, the bass bubbles through the mix providing a real solid and gnarly bottom end, the drums crack like lightning and Holly is right in the pocket trading off vocals with Jonesy. Top marks go to Holly it can't have been easy to follow a great vocalist like MD fronting a band as well liked as BF but whilst not a million miles from MD's style she brings a sorta punk belligerence to things which is totally her own and fits the new songs perfectly! 

It almost feels like Burning Flag have something to prove here coming off the back of  losing their singer, a global pandemic and a year that hasn't been easy for anybody let alone bands. This album burns with an intensity that to me shows they have channeled all this into a sound that even in it's less full on thrashier moments like the intense title track "Matador" still exude menace and sheer force! 

What I lover about Burning Flag is, it's their wide range of influences gives them their unique sound I hear elements of Guitar Noise, Industrial, Metal, Punk & Hardcore in their sound but they blend this in such a way that you can't mistake this band for anyone else! There's huge riffs aplenty and they are of the kind that makes you want to repeatedly smash your head into the wall with glee! There are no highlights to this album simply because to have highlights there has to be songs that are weaker than the rest and there aren't any! Every song is absolute as good as the one preceding it and the one after but for the sake of the review a few things did stand out like Single "Eat The Rich" a classic Burning Flag riff with it's stop start chuggery it's gonna down a storm when they get back out playing live! And the destroying, discordant VoiVod-esque riffing in "Vendetta"  tempered with a SWANS like pounding mid section really blew me away! Good ideas are plentiful here amongst the business as usual Burning Flag Arse Kicking and I found that the whole album kept my attention and engaged me completely! The real surprise here for me was closing track "All The While" clocking in at near double the length of the rest of the album tracks this is one unholy bastardization of Killing Joke at their heaviest Rollins Band at their nastiest before breaking into an extended heavy chuigging riff that would probably make Slayer cry!

Summing up Burning Flag have returned with an album building on the strength of 2 great albums to produce an even greater one! Every member of this band is playing like their lives depended on it and it shows! This album does not let up from start to finish whilst there's plenty of variety on offer it's an album so intense in it's delivery you're gonna feel exhausted just sitting listening to it! I honestly don't know where they get their energy from! I stand by what I've been saying for about 7 or more years, these guys are about the best in the scene right now and this album has just stamped all 8 of it's booted feet  down on this fact with unwavering authority!

Matador is out on Thursday (14/4/21) 

Download or Buy CD here - Bandcamp

Facebook - HERE

Official website for Merch, Info etc - HERE