Paul Kantner & Grace Slick

Sunfighter LOATING WORLD

Halfway between an Airplane and a Starship.

Recorded in 1971 during down time on the Jefferson Airplane’s Bark album, Sunfighter was the first official release from Paul Kantner and Grace Slick as an item, celebrating their union with a cover-star photo of baby China.

Studded with contributions from West Coast mates – Jerry Garcia, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Tower Of Power horns et al – it’s a mixed blessing. The health-food fascist put down Silver Spoon is a compelling opener – when Slick (who is now a vegan) hits her straps she’s unstoppable – but that’s as good as it gets. Kantner’s Universal Copernican Mumbles is neatly experimental, if hardly staggering, leaving the centrepiece When I Was A Boy I Watched The Wolves, driven home by Garcia’s lead, and Jorma Kaukonen’s guitar embellishments on the acid-folk Look At The Wood as the other clear high points.