Distant Horizons

This CD, recorded between January and July of 1997, was released on Hawkwind's own Emergency Broadcasting System label. The lineup of the group on this one was band founder Dave Brock, Richard Chadwick, Ron Tree, and Jerry Richards. The opening title track is in a techno/trance-ish style, a sound that is one of Hawkwind's newer modes. However, lest the listener be fooled by that fact, that one and the album closer are the only two pieces that are in that vein. The rest of the disc has a texture that is more along the lines of the music the group produced during the tenures of Nik Turner and Robert Calvert. The second track will quickly shatter that techno inclination on its own. Called "Phetamine Street," it feels much like "Uncle Sam's on Mars." There are also several progressive rock-leaning compositions present on the album. Of the harder-rocking material, "Alchemy" really stands out. It is one that feels at times a lot like "Hassan I Shaba" (alternately known as "Assassins of Allah"), but features a section that is full on heavy metal. It makes for an interesting twist on the tried-and-true Hawkwind sound. Curiously enough, although there is a listing for "Love in Space" as track 11 on the CD, the aforementioned techno book-ending number (entitled "Taxi for Max") comes in at number ten, with no "Love in Space" to be found. ~ Gary Hill|