Zones/Do Not Panic (Live From Stonehenge)

A well-designed budget-line package pairing two albums that, between them offer a fair glimpse into the state of Hawkwind during the early-mid-'80s. Zones/Do Not Panic were originally released separately during 1983 and 1984, the albums draw from four primary sources: a late 1980 studio session, and concerts at Lewisham Odeon in December 1980; Stonehenge in June 1984 ; and Bristol's Colston Hall six months later. As such, there is a certain dislocation between the two, all the more so since both the Lewisham live performance, and the 1984-era tracks are divided across the two discs. Then again, anything else would have compromised the integrity of the original albums, both of which are among the more fondly regarded of all Hawkwind's '80s archive projects -- and deservedly so. Frequently dismissed as just another ragbag gathering of live cuts and out-takes, Zones is, in fact, one of Hawkwind's more fascinating albums, while This is Hawkwind, Do Not Panic ranks alongside the best of their concerts discs, in terms of both sound and performance. ~ Dave Thompson|