THE RE-AWAKENING
While killing time waiting for my daughter, I was in my local supermarket scouring the magazine shelf when I spied a Hawkwind motif adorning the cover of Prog 136. I scanned a couple of pages, concluded it would suit my reading tastes and took it to the checkout.
While reading the history behind
A Space Ritual, I began to get a little nostalgic for the band, as I am wont to do every once in awhile. This led me to
stream the album and re-enjoy it. I’ve been fortunate enough to have seen Hawkwind more times than I can recall throughout the late 70s and 80s. They were a band guaranteed to please on any given performance and I have fond, if a little hazy memories.
The article also alerted me to the sad loss of Nik Turner, whom I’d seen with the band on a few occasions. I had been unaware of the fact as I hadn’t caught that very sad news. However, the article did cause me to search out some of his solo work, some of which I believe could be amply described as an alternative Hawkwind; in short more Hawkwind. I explored some of his other work, most of which I was extremely impressed with and, as I type this, am listening to his 2020 album, Interstellar Energy, under the band name Nik Turner, The Space Falcons And Youth. Wow! I am filled with a mixture of remorse that I didn’t discover this while he was still living and yet relief that at least now I am aware of its existence. This album encompasses a great fusion of styles: jazz/space/rocky, with a great Hawkwind feel. I’m also enjoying some of his other offerings, what a talent the guy truly was!
[Reader] Bill Amos remarked about the musical pathways in the letters page of that edition and I too identify with the days of thumbing through the vinyl in one’s favourite record shop, but he’s also correct when he says that youngsters (and oldsters) have other ways now to discover music.
Dave Neal, Gloucester