Blood Of The Earth [CD]

After last years concert I was looking forward to hearing this new album. The snippets I'd heard of the tracks didn't disappoint. A great album, with a varied feel to the tracks. Its the first Hawkwind album I've bought for years & in my humble opinion its a real return to form. The packaging is excellent as well :-)

I'm not going to elaborate too much as regards this recent release, other Hawkwind fans have already contributed very worthy reviews so I just want to tell it as it is, brief and to the point.

I bought both CD releases as I've always tried to be very supportive of the band in every little way I can, they deserve it. Apart from having to practically fight to open the box on the double disc issue, the packaging/art is top notch, full marks there.

I was slightly disappointed with the studio effort at first...but wait for it, it's a real grower and I think they have delivered with this and rediscovered their vigour, just give it a chance. Personal favourite has to be 'Comfy Chair', it's got Dave Brock written all over it and has that acoustic/hot electronic feel that dominates earlier classics like 'Space is Deep'/'Demented Man'/We took the wrong step years ago', builds beautifully. 'Wraith' is a real stomper, it has that traditional 'Magnu'/'Angels of Death' kick in the guts feel about it.

It's the 'Live' disc that really has balls and doesn't let up enough to allow the listener to take a breath, it's outstanding, I was in awe the first time I listened to this, it really blew me away. I'd like to say the drive here washes over you, but it's more like being flattened by a steamroller, they actually play with the hard enthusiasm of a band far far younger.

It's a bloody good buy, fab in every way, ten out of ten.

Although I've reviewed the single CD version the addition of the live CD in this version gives me a chance to witter away again and consider the value of the live material.

I'm not going to exactly repeat myself but I've now listened to the studio album numerous times. The standout tracks are the heavy rock of Wraith, with it's more techno rock central section, the beautiful instrumental Green Machine, Tim Blake's Inner Vision, Comfey Chair where more beauty lies, You'd Better believe It which really pounds along with great style although the quiet middle doesn't join so well with the rest, and the even more beautiful Sentinel which for me is the best track. All the band members are throwing themselves into the mix with great boldness. Prometheus seems to be getting good reviews but I find it a bit of a heavy rock plodder and my least favourite of the new songs. However the very messy rework of Sweet Obsession is by far the worst track on the album. It's true that Seahawks and Blood of the Earth are not the strongest openers but it's pounding beat and bass and ambient finish leading into the short ambient Blood of The Earth gives both tracks merit.

As I write the MP3 download includes the bonus track from the single CD, Starshine although Amazon have called it Sunship (a bonus on the vinyl version).

For the live CD we get a short spoken version of Space is Deep over ambient synths, an extremely heavy version of Angels of Death, a good live version of Wraith, Tim Blake's more restrained Tide of the Century which is pretty decent, the best part with more very heavy rock of Magnu leading into a rather splendid version of the mid section of Brainbox Pollution, more heaviness with Levitation, a cover of Syd Barret's Long Gone and Interview which is not really an interview. It's a collection sound snippets, voices and the band talking now and again. Very bizarre. Very pointless. The sound quality on the live tracks is fine, the band are playing with gusto and I think Hawkwind fans will like this a lot. Levellers violin man John Sevink is apparently guesting on the live tracks though I could only detect violin on Angels of Death. Overall a very worthwhile live CD backing a largely excellent studio album.