HAWKWIND LBS 83348 (-70) UK

Hawkwind's debute LP and by many also regarded the beginning of space-rock. There had been previous trials that, in retrospective, might fit the genre - for exemple the Pink Floyd cuts "Astronomy Domine", "Interstellar Overdrive" and "Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun" - but those still coined "psych" as they were part of a much wider repertoire. Hawkwind however stayed with the concept and can therefore be called the first true space-rockers. After just coming together and without even having a fixed name - first appearing as "Group X" or "Hawkwind Zoo" - they took part in a talent show and was there spotted by John Peel, which eventually led to a contract for Liberty label. Well at the recordings producer Dick Taylor (who'd just quit as guitarist in Pretty Things) had a hard time to organize any kind of acceptable outcome by conventional means and therefore decided to let them just do their thing live in the studio and then mold the result downstream. And that's about what I hear here. With exception of "Hurry On Sundown" opening and "Mirror Of Illusion" ending the set, all in between sounds like live takes more or less chopped up and divided into separate tracks. As first accustomed to their next two LP:s "In Search Of Space" and "Doremi Fasol Latido" I like it a lot. To my ears the folky "Hurry On Sundown", though good in itself, doesn't fit the ambience, but the rest is exactly how I want my Hawkwind - long hypnotic whim-filled parts with, what it seems, more concern for inner groove than public approval. Favorite tracks - "Paranoia" (both parts) and "Mirror Of Illusion". This press sounds marvellous - big, strong and natural with top separation it's still the Hawkwind original with best audio. 1970 issues in parts of Europe and South Africa. US 1971 on United Artists (UAS 5519). UK 1975 reissue on Sunset (SLS 50374). Japan 2010 remastered limited edition CD in paper sleeve (Liberty TOCP-95059) came with four bonus tracks. Very first UK on blue label was reputedly pressed in less that 1000 copies. I'm confident the black label copy shown here is quite early too as the matrixes are A-2/B-2, the vinyl more than medium thick (later pressings would have considerably thinner vinyl) and wrapped in the original matt fold/out cover. (HÖWK*) (XLÄ*)